The refurbished Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park (KNMP) in Accra, Ghana, is to be temporarily closed from midnight on Friday, July 7, 2023, to Tuesday, July 11, 2023.
The closure is to allow for preparations towards the commercial operations of the park.
This development was announced in a statement signed by the Acting Director of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Mr. Edward Quao, today, July 7.
“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused, and we are committed to delivering a remarkable experience that exceeds the expectation of the community and visitors,” the acting Director added in a statement.
The facility which houses the remains of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and his wife, Fathia Nkrumah and located on the former polo grounds in Accra, where Ghana’s independence was declared was refurbished at the cost of $3.5 million.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Tuesday, 4th July 2023, commissioned the redeveloped Park.
According to the President, the redeveloped Park will attract some one million domestic and international tourists annually.
Speaking at the unveiling of the redeveloped memorial park, President Akufo-Addo added that the government will continue to invest in the tourism sector to help revive the economy.
Meanwhile, the Convention People’s Party (CPP) has expressed its dissatisfaction with the renovation of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, stating that it was primarily motivated by the potential economic benefits rather than respect for the memory of Ghana’s first president.
Nana Yaa Jantuah, the General Secretary of the CPP, voiced her concerns in an exclusive interview with Citi News.
She pointed out that, despite the party’s long-standing commitment to upholding the ideals and legacy of Dr. Nkrumah, they were entirely excluded from the planning committees and subsequent commissioning of the revamped facility.
Jantuah alleged that President Akufo-Addo had deliberately altered significant dates and memories associated with Dr. Nkrumah, ever since he assumed office in order to align them with the Busia-Dombo tradition.