The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture has announced that the rehabilitation and modernization work on the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, popularly known as the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, will be completed by the end of the second quarter of this year. The minister, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, revealed that over 90% of the renovation work has already been completed, and the park is expected to be opened to the public in June.
The facility’s transformation into a world-class tourism park is expected to contribute significantly to the country’s 1.2 million anticipated international tourist arrivals in 2023, with an estimated revenue of US$3.4 billion. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the mausoleum registered an average of 98,000 visitors annually, but about 400,000 tourists are expected to visit the facility after its rehabilitation.
The renovation of the mausoleum and park, including the construction of a new Presidential Library, a training centre, a new restaurant, a VVIP lounge, an artistic freedom wall, a befitting car park, music and a light fountain, is being supported by the World Bank Tourism Development Project.
Dr. Awal emphasized that the park’s completion is expected to create an additional 50 jobs and many indirect jobs, and boost the country’s travel and tourism trade. The minister added that the government is projecting the creation of some 150,000 jobs in the tourism value chain this year, including training and capacity building for some 6,000 sector players.
In conclusion, the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park’s reopening will not only enhance Ghana’s tourism sector but also celebrate the country’s rich cultural heritage.