World Bank Vice President Visits Upgraded Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park

The World Bank Vice President for Western and Central Africa, Ousmane Diagana, has visited the newly re-developed Kwame Nkrumah Memorial and Mausoleum Park (KNMMP) in Accra. The $4.8 million renovation was funded by the World Bank, under the Ghana Tourism Development Project, which was aimed at enhancing tourism in selected destinations across the country.

The refurbishment began in May 2022 and was completed in 12 months, leading to the park’s reopening on July 4, 2023.

Key upgrades included the construction of a Presidential Library, Freedom Hall, an amphitheatre, an audio-visual tunnel, a new water fountain and a modernised reception area with a digital payment system.

Speaking during his visit, Mr. Diagana stated “Dr. Nkrumah’s vision and ideology will continue to inspire future generations of Africans. I am delighted that the World Bank was part of expanding and enhancing this museum, a unique site for learning about this great leader’s life and achievements.”

Since its reopening, the park has recorded over 208,000 visitors in its first year, a significant increase from the pre-renovation annual average of 98,000.

Revenue generated during this period totaled GHS 4.98 million ($340,000), contributing to the Ministry of Tourism’s $3.4 billion revenue target.

The park, one of Ghana’s top 10 tourist attractions, now serves as a venue for cultural events, educational tours, and national celebrations. Its striking design features an inverted sword, symbolizing peace in Akan culture, and is adorned with Italian marble.

The black star atop the structure represents unity, while surrounding water features signify life and continuity. A skylight illuminating Dr. Nkrumah’s grave marker creates a serene and reverential ambiance, reflecting his vision for peace and progress.

Spanning five acres in area, the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park commemorates Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, a key figure in the country’s independence and the Pan-African movement.

Located on the grounds where Dr. Nkrumah declared Ghana’s independence on March 6, 1957, the park houses his final resting place alongside that of his wife, Fathia Nkrumah. Dr. Nkrumah, who led Ghana from independence in 1957 until his overthrow in 1966, spent his later years in Guinea before passing away on April 27, 1972, in Bucharest, Romania.

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