News:
January 11, 2011
The Member of Parliament for Kwadaso, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has bemoaned the lack of good maintenance culture of Ghanaians, especially when it comes to taking adequate care of state institutions.
According to the MP, several public buildings have been left in poor state of disrepair while those tasked with the responsibility of taking good care of them look on unconcerned.
The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, for instance was in a deplorable state, the edifice operated under leaking roofs, cracked floors and poor lighting systems for a long time until the Kwame Nkrumah centenary anniversary celebration in September 2009, where the facility was renovated.
Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto’s comment comes in the wake of a report that the roof and walls of the Independence Square, which is the venue for the nation’s Independence Day Celebrations, and other national social events, are being covered by algae and spirogyra.
The monument, as well as the parade grounds which accommodate over 30,000 people on major occasions has been affected and the yellow paints of the roofs and walls are turning green and brown, with some parts peeling off.
Contributing to a discussion on Metro TV’s “Good Morning Ghana” Tuesday morning, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, condemned the situation where state institutions are left unattended to and charged those responsible to be more proactive.
“These institutions are national assets that we have pride in, and it is important that we don’t look on as their state worsens and later look for money (loans) to rehabilitate them,” he said.
Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, suggested the provision of an annual budget for maintaining national monuments to ensure that enough funds are available to keep up the dignity of such facilities.
Story by : Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh