Kumasi Children’s Park in ruins.Now haven for thieves, drug peddlers
The Kumasi Children’s Park, which previously served as a recreational centre for children and youngsters in the Garden City and its environs, is now a pale shadow of itself.
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Located in the heart of Amakom and very close to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, it did not only serve as a place of socialisation for children but also promoted education and healthy lifestyles.
The park was once full of activities and was popularly known in Kumasi as “Playground" and had a multi-functional facility that comprised a library, pavilion and playing field.
It also provided opportunities for children to learn and develop social skills, imaginative and creative works, as well as problem-solving abilities but has now become a haven for thieves and drug peddlers following its neglect by city authorities.
A library facility, which encouraged reading among schoolchildren, facilitated research work and boosted academic activities, has now been taken over by squatters.
Another unsafe aspect of the park is the invasion by mentally challenged people some of whom wield dangerous weapons that put the lives of people within the vicinity at risk.
The park is now a place for open defecation, which has dire consequences on the people who live close to the park.
Junior Graphic has learnt that the play equipment which were previously used to entertain children who visited the park were no longer functioning and scrap dealers had removed the malfunctioning equipment.
The pavilion which was also meant for relaxation after physical exercises has been turned into a centre of worship by some churches.
Portions of the park close to the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority have become a refuse dump and pose a threat to the health of passers-by who usually use the park as a thoroughfare.
The Public Relations Officer of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Mr Godwin Okumah Nyame, told the Junior Graphic in an interview that the KMA had plans of restoring the once vibrant park to one befitting the future leaders of the country.
He added that "it is part of the long-term programme catalogued by the assembly."
On security, Mr Nyame assured the general public that the KMA Task Force would continue to protect the park by ensuring that no nefarious activities would take place there.
