EFUA SUTHERLAND PARK ENTRANCE

Accra with such a large population and relatively large coverage of physical development has only a negligible proportion of planned recreational activities.  In fact open spaces constitute about 5% of the urban land structure out of which only a fraction is actually planned. 

There is a diversity of activities in the few available recreational resources – inland activities both passive and active as well as coastal/beach activities.  There is an emerging interest in beach resources while tourism in general is on the increase at least in Accra.

Accra is still a virgin area as far as development of recreational and tourism facilities are concerned.  The entire coastal front remains under-developed with large tracts of land from Osu to Jamestown being derelict.  The most deprived areas as far as recreational activities are concerned are the low-income communities including the communities in the catchments area of the Korle Lagoon.  In areas such as Jamestown and Bukom, there is simply no space to provide for recreational facilities.  Despite the potentials of development in the recreation and tourism sectors, the yield may not be sustainable due to uncertainties surrounding the tourism industry.
               

PARK WITHOUT GREENS

However Accra is still leading  destination for tourists in Ghana at least as the gateway into the country.  The recreational centers are left in a very bad condition, the sanitation problems are terrible, when i visited the Efua Santhurland Park, i saw that the place was left very untidy but speaking to the caretaker there explained that the recreational center had cleaners who take care of the place ,so one who ask how come the place is always dirty? I pass by the place all the time and each time it is the same. Is someone refusing to pay the workers or are they just being lazy.

I made time to visit the Legon Botanical garden and Nationalism Park to get answers to the question in my 1st post.

Nationalism park in Accra

Walk way at the Nationalism park

The Nationalism Park is located right beside the Accra sports stadium now the Ohenedjan sports stadium. It is a very serene and beautiful environment. The uniqueness of this park is its clean,peaceful nature and the fact that it is located in the center of town which makes its users see cars and people that pass by .Another delight of the Nationalism park  is its nearness to the people.


It is easy to get there by public transport like mini buses popularly known as "trotro" or even taxi's, from circle its less than  15 minutes drive.Driving your car is even faster. Aside its serene and beautiful nature the park has Washrooms for both male and female dust bins and cleaners who maintain the place.

 

A video of the serene Nature of the Nationalism Park

At the Nationalism Park I saw just a handful of people,some who were praying (having a quiet time) studying ,sleeping and others having a chat with their partners.It was the same scenario at the Legon botanical garden, Except that i was told by the Manager of the botanical garden that it is mostly packed on Saturdays because it is rented by for wedding receptions.
 I finally spoke to a lady who expressed her opinion about whether Ghanaians use the little parks and gardens we have and why ....

 

 You heard a Ghanaian expressing her view 

Do the other parks and gardens have proper maintenance? because i must say the Nationalism Park is properly maintained and has a very clean environment.