The history of a nation forms part of their culture and brings out the uniqueness of the nation. History may be gleaned from documentations, anthropological digs, oral narration or evidence based artefacts and tourist sites. TUNNYV Magazine visited the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum Park and brings readers some tidbits.
The Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum is located in Greater Accra and, as the name suggests, is the final resting place of Ghana’s first president. It is not just a tourist site but also a historic one, being the venue for the declaration of Ghana’s Independence on 6th March, 1957. It was then known as the Polo Grounds.
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Aside of the tomb of Nkrumah and his wife Fathia, the Mausoleum displays items used or owned by Nkrumah that capture parts of his life including pictures and books written by him.
HOW TO GET IN
The museum is accessible to the public, individuals and groups at a fee. There are guides always available to guide tourists and educate visitors. Depending on the occasion, the rate changes from time to time, lower on regular days, higher holidays with different rates for nationals and foreign nationals.
WELCOMING
Before an individual gets to the park there is an avenue lined with trees. Some of the trees were planted by Presidents or Prime Ministers of other countries and prominent people who visited Ghana. The trees planted by these dignitaries bear their names and designations as well as the dates on which the trees were planted. On some occasions, Ghanaian traditional music is performed live by a Ghanaian group to welcome and entertain tourists and visitors.
FORWARD EVER
The first monument, easily recognizable, is the statue of Ghana’s first president, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, symbolizing his slogan of ‘Forward ever, backwards never’. The monument provides tourists with an excellent background for pictures.
A picturesque fountain dotted with the statues of seven traditional horn-blowers also serves as a backdrop to memorable pictures for tourists. According to our tour guide, the horn-blowing statues communicate a message of welcome to tourists and sightseers who visit the Mausoleum.
The seven horn-blowers are preceded by two other statues of drummers on bended knees facing opposite directions, north and south. This, according to our guide signifies the unification of Ghanaians from north to south.
The car used by Dr Nkrumah has been preserved in a glass cage to prevent rust. There is also the tiled covering in a form of a tower where he was laid to rest with his wife Fathia Nkrumah on the right side.
On the outside, the Mausoleum has much to offer in scenic beauty, but there is more information on Nkrumah within.
