It is not in doubt that the Akufo-Addo administration has reconstructed the Asomdwee Park in honor of the late President Mills. The reconstructed Asomdwee Park comes with a mini museum, an audio-visual library with free Wifi, a conference room, restaurant and a ceremonial ground with a statue of president Mills.
However, there has been a lot of brouhaha surrounding the renovation of the Asomdwe Park, where the late President John Evans Atta-Mills was laid to rest. The family of late President John Evans Atta Mills is furious at the government for allowing an NGO run by former deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Koku Anyidoho, to be spearheading the renovation of the Asomdwee Park. The family described the act as culturally insensitive, because the family was not informed before the renovation work was carried out.
The Chronicle agrees with the president for renovating the Asomdwe Park to look more modern and serve as a tourist site. For instance, the Arlington National Cemetery in the United States of America is the most famous cemetery in the country and it is the final resting place for many of their greatest heroes. Former US presidents William Howard Taft and John F. Kennedy were buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
The government must, therefore, be applauded for uplifting the status of the Asomdwee Park to its current state. The Asomdwee Park was in a deplorable state and did not befit the image of the late President John Evans Atta Mills. It is indeed good news that the Akufo-Addo administration has reconstructed the Asomdwee Park in honor of President Mills.
The Chronicle also supports the school of thought that in renovating the Asomdwee Park, we must be guided by our customs and traditions. The President, even though took a great decision to renovate the Asomdwe Park, we believe they should have informed the Family of the late president. Hence, there is the need to adhere to our cultural sensitivity which makes it imperative that family and loved ones are carried along as far as possible when decisions on a dead person is made.
With the 10 years anniversary of the passing of the late President to be marked on Sunday July 24, 2022 at the Asomdwee Park, we prevail on all parties to come together and observe the day peacefully, in honor of a man who personified the word ‘Peace’ itself. The Chronicle urges all to bury their differences for peace to prevail.
Prof Mills was posthumously awarded the highest prize as the 2012 Lifetime Africa Achievement Prize Laureate on Democratic Governance and Development in Africa. According to the Prize Committee, the award was in “recognition of his genteel disposition, virtues, devotion and commitment to the enhancement of good Democratic Governance and Development in Ghana and Africa at large. The reopening of the rehabilitated park, as well as other activities to mark the 10th Anniversary of his passing must be observed in peace and tranquility in honor of the Asomdweehene.
