The once vibrant Efua Sutherland Children’s Park, in Accra, which had served as recreational centre for children, and other activities, for decades, is gradually deteriorating.
The once busy place, where children go and have fun has now become almost non-functional.
The colourful structures, made of metal, plastic and wood, installed for children to play with, are deteriorating. The ‘children’s train’ is at the mercy of the weather and the surroundings overgrown with weeds.
The park is in ruins without any sign of it bouncing back to ‘life’ to provide the recreational needs of scores of Ghanaian children, particularly those in Accra.
A visit by the Ghanaian Times yesterday, discovered that part of the park had been turned into events ground for parties, hangout for individuals and parking lot for private cars.
A staff at the Department of Children whom this reporter spoke with on condition of anonymity, said discussions with authorities were on going to revamp the park.
Ms Sarah Prempeh, who was seen at the park with her children, said “generation of children growing up now will have no positive memories of playing at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park if the place is left to rot.”
She said, “The place used to be very lively, where hundreds of children play with various playing materials.”
“The place looks very deserted with playing equipment rusting because it hasn’t been in use for a long time,” Ms Prempeh said, and called on the Department of Children to revamp the park.
BY GEOFFREY BUTA