Following a Citi News report on the poor state of the Rattray Park, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly has said it has begun processes to undertake repair works to save the facility from further deterioration.
[contextly_sidebar id=”3ccpIhTcTJw6DCSnQTpkXKilEkcxGAFH”]The $4.4 million park which was opened at a flamboyant ceremony with personalities such as Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and former President John Mahama in attendance, is now a product of poor management as most facilities there are dysfunctional with filth taking over the park.
But the Assembly, which manages the park said it has commenced assessment of the deteriorating structures and will soon begin repair works.
Public Relations Officer for the KMA, Godwin Okumah Nyame, in a Citi News interview said it has outlined plans to restore the park to its former state.
“The Assembly is aware of it. It was even discussed at the General Assembly level as to how best we can improve upon the facilities at the Rattray Park so it is true that we have some challenges and those challenges have been identified and they are going to be fixed. The engineers have already picked the estimates for some of the parts that have cracks for them to actually work on,” he said.
Despite his inability to give timelines for the repair works, Mr. Nyame urged the public to continue to patronize the park.
“So very soon, the challenges are going to be fixed. We have some challenges but the park is still operational. People who want to visit the park can still visit,” he said.
The Park, since its inception, has suffered some challenges including the non-payment of Value Added Tax (VAT) and poor maintenance.
The facility, the cost of which had divided Assembly Members at the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) under the leadership of the former Chief Executive, Kojo Bonsu is no longer attractive to revelers due to its state.
Aside the political wrangling over its cost at the time, officers from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) on 23rd September, 2016, locked up the place for non-payment of tax.
On 30th August, 2017, a USB drive containing operating software for the facility’s dancing fountain was also stolen, an incident that took a toll on its operations.
State of the facility
Citi News’ visit to the park revealed that the painting on the walls was peeling off, the waste bins were filled to the brim with refuse scattered all over.
The overgrown grass in and around the compound confirmed the level of neglect.
The facilities at the children’s playground were no different. As if that was not enough, the water on which the dancing fountain sits had developed algae.
The water fountain has turned into a white elephant after the USB drive containing its operating software was stolen.
Walls around the fountain are falling off. Although the washrooms are kept clean, there is no soap for patrons to wash their hands after using them. The canteen has also been deserted.
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By: Jonas Nyabor/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
