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Home » Ghanaian Chronicle » Fri 03rd Mar, 2017 » Ghana@50 Jubilee Park in Koforidua turns suburban for the homeless

Ghana@50 Jubilee Park in Koforidua turns suburban for the homeless

Ghanaian Chronicle

Fri 03rd Mar, 2017 16:12

. Story from Isaac Akwetey-Okunor. The government of Ghana, in 2007, spent a whopping US$60 million (GH¢60.179.481) on various projects, including the Eastern Regional Golden Jubilee Park, across the country, during the celebration of Ghana@50, according to records. The Eastern Regional Golden Jubilee Park has been reduced into a residential place for the homeless, ten […]

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Story from Isaac Akwetey-Okunor.
The government of Ghana, in 2007, spent a whopping US$60 million (GH¢60.179.481) on various projects, including the Eastern Regional Golden Jubilee Park, across the country, during the celebration of Ghana@50, according to records.
The Eastern Regional Golden Jubilee Park has been reduced into a residential place for the homeless, ten years after it was constructed, under the regime of former President John Agyekum Kufuor.
The GH¢5 billion facility is in a deplorable state, and which was built to be used for other purposes to generate revenue towards the development of the area, has also become the abode for people, animals, and also a hideout for Indian hemp (wee) smokers.
The Golden Jubilee facility, which the poor tax payer’s money was used to construct in 2007, has been also been left to the mercy of the weather, as the city authorities look on with a lackadaisical attitude.
A visit to the Jubilee Park, which is adjacent to the headquarters of the Eastern Regional Police Command, by the Eastern File, revealed that section of the facility was being occupied by some people.
When contacted, one of the occupants, Raficatu Seidu, said she was permitted by a security man who watches over the Koforidua Center for National Culture to settle in the section supposed to be used as a bar and restaurant.
The lucky lady has lived there with her children for the past three years, after she had a misunderstanding with her husband.
It was also discovered that several people were also occupying the offices as their official residence, and using two corners of the facility for their washroom.
Just after the celebration, the expectations of residents in the capital were that the authorities of New Juaben Municipal Assembly and Regional Coordinating Council, which have administrative responsibilities over state properties, could make some money from the facility, but their expectations have hit a snag.
The issue of the bad Ghanaian maintenance culture was a clear manifestation of the roofing, ceilings, and lighting system, which were in a very bad state.
Ten years after the construction, the place has not been rehabilitated, as the old paint is peeling off, with the structure developing cracks, turning it into a death trap, whilst a portion of the concrete tiles used for the floor was also washed away by erosion.
The only benefit the region can boast about, since the facility was constructed, was the occasional use by the Eastern Police Command for recruitment and passing out parades of its personnel.
Could one say the state of the facility, as it stands, amounts to causing financial loss to the state, or human negligence and maintenance ailment on the part of city authorities?
Your guess is as good as mine!