Magnificent new Nkrumah Park in 25 breathtaking photos

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has inaugurated the redeveloped magnificent new Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra describing it as monumental project expected to boost Ghana’s international tourist arrivals significantly.

The redevelopment of the magnificent new Nkrumah became necessary after the park, which was built in 1991 to house the remains of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, by then Head of State, Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings, got into a state of disrepair.

The reconstruction maintains the historical value of the Park, increased its visitor capacity and improved service delivery to visitors.

New look

The mah is a 10.8 feet bronze statue, and an imposing mausoleum where his mortal remains and that of his wife, Fathia, are interred.

Other facilities include statues of horn blowers with a fountain surrounded by trees planted by some distinguished personalities, a library, conference and reception centres, an infirmary and a gift shop.

The upgraded fountain now incorporates captivating visuals and synchronized music, creating a mesmerizing experience for all who visit.

It also has a mini-amphitheatre, as well as picnic area for the youth and visitors.

The magnificent new Nkrumah park will also serve as a heritage site, symbol of Africa’s liberation from colonialism.

With increased gallery space and state-of-the-art audio-visual capabilities, the museum offers an immersive and educational.

The road within the magnificent new Nkrumah Park has been upgraded to provide a smoother and safer journey for visitors.

To cater to the increasing number of visitors, the car park has been improved with increased capacity, allowing for smoother and more organized parking arrangements.

The magnificent new Nkrumah also boasts of a restaurant offering diverse culinary experience, toilet facilities to ensure convenience and comfort of visitors and new and efficient drainage network to mitigate any potential issues during the rainy season.

Other additional features include digitalized ticketing system.

Focus on tourism sector

President Nana Akufo-Addo noted that the redevelopment of the magnificent new Nkrumah highlights Ghana’s focus on the tourism sector.

In view of this he stated that “the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park which attracted some 90,000 visitors before the renovation is now expected to attract over one million tourists annually.”

Ghana has made a projection of 1.2 million tourist arrivals by the end of 2023, and the Park is expected to add up significantly to achieving this target.

President Nana Akufo-Addo indicated that besides the park, his administration is building museums and other attractions around the country.

Other tourist attractions to be built

These he said, include “the construction of a museum and heroes’ park for the Big Six, a Memorial Park in Cape Coast for the Aborigines Rights Protection Society, a memorial enclave in Tamale for the founders of the erstwhile Northern People’s Party (NPP) to symbolize their participation in the drive for national independence and the completion of the Bonwire and Yaa Asantewaa Museum in Ejisu.”

According to him, these projects are in line with the government’s plan to make Ghana a preferred destination for tourists.

The President noted that “museums and other tourist attractions are the living energies of culture and history and represent the very essence of a people.

The fountain with statues of horn blowers and a drummer

It is thus important that they are kept in the best possible shape to attract domestic and international visitors.”

As part of measures being taken to develop the tourism sector, President Nana Akufo-Addo said over 6,000 people will be trained to work front line operations and deal with local and foreign visitors.

This investment in tourism will help energize local economies and create Ghana into a hub of global entertainment, according to the President.

The President expressed his hopes that the park will help create a legacy future generations will celebrate.

Samia Nkrumah commended unity of purpose

The daughter of the first president, Samia Nkrumah, who represented the Nkrumah family, said she was proud of Ghana for coming together to renovate the park. “We are honoring one of our own, one of our fathers, one of our ancestors” she added.

Front view of the reception Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park

“The material gain is one thing, but as Africans this is a Mecca for pan-Africanism,” Samia Nkrumah said.

She expressed hopes that Africa will eventually come together, saying, “Africa and Africans must unite. All Africans have to unite in order to prosper, and the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park will help give this dream strength and guidance.”

The role of the World Bank

The World Bank Country Director, Pierre Laporte, described the first president as more than a politician, calling him “a revolutionary and a visionary.”

He said Nkrumah is considered one of the most influential people of the 20th century because of his contributions to African nationalism.

“The bank is happy and honored to have contributed financially for the recent renovation,” Laporte said.

$3.5m funding

He revealed that some $3.5 million from the $40 million 5-year Tourism Development Project was used in the redevelopment. $20 million still remains and will be used in the next 12 months.

Front view of the presidential library

This money comes from a collaboration between the World Bank and Tourism and Finance Ministries.

Other attractions World bank is funding

In addition to upgrading the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, the funds will be used for upgrading the Kintampo Waterfalls, Bonwire Craft Village and the Gushegu Smock Village, among others. Laporte said these projects will help drive economic growth and transformation.

Minister of Tourism

“Ghana has heritage and political tourism and that’s what we want to leverage,” Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture said.

With modernization projects around the country, he hopes Ghana will become a key heritage attraction in Africa to drive tourism and celebration of Ghanaian culture and heritage.

Dr. Awal, pointed out that with the repositioning and enhancements of the tourism, arts and cultural infrastructure, it is expected that the sector would become the number one contributor to Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2025.

The coffin that was used to transfer Dr Nkrumah’s remains to Accra

Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance, said the Government’s investment in the tourism industry aimed at creating jobs and wealth for the sustainable growth of the economy.

History of the Park

The park is the final resting place of Dr. Nkrumah since his death on April 27, 1972 in Bucharest, Romania and his wife, Fathia Nkrumah, and hosts rare artifacts relating to Ghana’s independence.

He had early on been buried in Conakry, Guinea and at Nkroful in the Western Region of Ghana.

The Park was opened to the public in 1992.

Since its establishment in 1992, visitors from all over the world numbering up to about 98,000 each year, come and pay homage to Ghana’s first President, learn about his life, and legacies.

The Park is one of the 10 most visited sites in Ghana.

Some Ghanaian artifacts on display

After 25 years of existence of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, the facility had not seen any meaningful facelift. Indeed, at a point the fountains (which are major attractions) were not functioning well or regularly thus affecting visitations.

Moreover, the roof of the museum leaked each time it rained making it difficult to conduct visitors around.

The situation was not different at the VIP lounge where most VIP guest of the State signed the visitors’ books after their tour.

Additionally, the main corridor to the washrooms and some parts of the washrooms were in a deplorable state.

In 2017, when President Akufo Addo took over as President of the Republic of Ghana, and recognize the important role of tourism in the development of the country, he declared Tourism as social advancement, with the potential to give a big boost to the economy.

One of the vehicles Dr Nkrumah used while in office on display

In 2018, President Akufo Addo secured a $40 million loan facility from the World Bank through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to; strengthen and enable the tourism environment; to address constraints most likely to have transformative impact on the sector; develop tourism sites and destinations; and finance the costs of tourism enterprises and business development services and training.

On May 27, this year, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture closed the park until further notice for major renovation works

On July 19, 2022, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, cut sod for the commencement of the rehabilitation and redevelopment of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum.

A gallery at Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park