In May 2022, Ghana’s historic memorial park dedicated to the nation’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, was temporarily closed for extensive renovation work.
Located at the former British colonial polo grounds in Accra, the park has been a cherished site honoring Dr. Nkrumah since its dedication in 1992. The park also serves as the resting place for both the late former president and his wife, Fathia Nkrumah, attracting tourists from far and wide.
After more than a year of meticulous efforts, the renovation project has now reached completion, and today, on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, it will be officially inaugurated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Early images of the newly refurbished memorial park have emerged, revealing an impressive edifice that features a presidential library and an open arena adorned with photographs of the ‘Big Six’: Kwame Nkrumah, the first prime minister and president of Ghana; Ebenezer Ako-Adjei, a founding member of the UGCC;
Edward Akufo-Addo, also a founding member of the UGCC; Joseph Boakye Danquah (J.B. Danquah); Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey, another founding member of the UGCC; and William Ofori Atta.
Among the captivating artifacts on display are photographs of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the presidential vehicles he once used, the coffin that carried his remains during his burial, and even the bed he slept on—an array of fascinating items that provide insights into his life and legacy.
The reopening of the memorial park signifies an important moment for Ghana, as it allows visitors and citizens to once again pay tribute to the esteemed first president and gain a deeper understanding of his remarkable contributions to the nation.
The meticulous restoration work has ensured that the memorial park stands as a fitting tribute to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s enduring legacy, inviting individuals to explore and appreciate Ghana’s rich history.
As the president officially commissions the renovated memorial park, it serves as a reminder of the nation’s commitment to preserving its heritage and honoring the remarkable individuals who have shaped its destiny.
We produce the full speech of President Nana Addo below :
On Tuesday, 4th July 2023, I commissioned the renovated and modernised Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, a year after I cut the sod for the commencement of work on the project.
The Park, which was built in 1991 and opened to the public in 1992, in the time of the 1st President of the 4th Republic, His Excellency the late Jerry John Rawlings, had not seen any renovation since then, resulting in significant deterioration of the edifice. It is for this reason that I instructed the brilliant Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, to close it down temporarily for renovation to be undertaken.
It is gratifying to note that the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park has not only been renovated, but it has also been completely modernised to befit the status of the final resting place of the man who led us to independence in 1957, and became Ghana’s first President, the justly-celebrated Kwame Nkrumah. The Park now has facilities including a presidential library, receptive facility, mini-amphitheater, restaurant, freedom wall, and a digitalised payment and access system. The mausoleum has also been fully refurbished, with the tombstone upgraded, and the museum expanded with an audiovisual tunnel.
There is also an upgraded VVIP lounge, expanded recreational area, a modernized gift shop, and a fountain area with synchronised audiovisuals, the first of its kind in West Africa.
The thirty million cedi (GH¢30million) modernised Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park is in line with plans by Government to make the Park one of the best tourism and heritage attractions in West Africa. As the outstanding pan-Africanist of his generation, the burial site of Dr. Nkrumah must be appropriate to his status and exceptional contribution to the liberation of Africa from colonialism and imperialism.
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