Accra, July 16, GNA - Mr Kweku Manu-Asiamah, Director, Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, on Thursday bemoaned the deplorable nature of the park and expressed the need to accelerate the rehabilitation efforts. "We operate under leaking roofs, cracked floors and poor lighting systems. In fact, Nkrumah's name and heritage do not match the condition under, which this park operates," he said.

Addressing the dignitaries at a wreath laying ceremony as part of this year's PANAFEST/Emancipation cerebration, he praised the government for releasing one of Dr Nkrumah's old vehicles to the centre for exhibition and called for the release of his Rolls Royce as well. Mr Manu-Asiamah called on the government to follow-up on the United Nations decision to make the Park a World Heritage site, since it would boost tourism and uplift its image.

He praised Nkrumah for championing the emancipation of the black race adding that he "incarnated the vision, humility, pride and the dignity of the black race world over".

Mr Manu-Asiamah thanked government for approving the budget submitted for renovations on the mausoleum and urged the Executive not to delay the importation of renovation materials for the park since such delays could have dire consequences on the centenary celebrations of Dr Nkrumah, slated for September 21.

He hinted that the facility is making preparations to mount the bastardised head of Dr Nkrumah's statue, which was retrieved from the public in May this year by the side of the main statue.

Mrs Juliana Azumah Mensah, Minister of Tourism, praised Nkrumah for his pioneering role in championing the emancipation of the black race. He praised the US President, Barack Obama and his wife for visiting Ghana, saying it would help to generate more interest in PANAFEST.

"It is my fervent hope that we will make it possible for this attraction to be developed to the highest level possible," she added. Mr Osman Foday Alhassane, Sierra Leonean Ambassador to Ghana, praised Ghana for the programme that sought to celebrate the emancipation of the black race and urged Africans to move forward in life and not to blame slavery for all their woes. 16 July 09