The Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly (EKMA) has successfully executed its deadline for the relocation of vendors and transport operators from the Jubilee Park Market to the new Apremdo Market, with full compliance observed as of October 14. The relocation has resulted in the park being vacated; however, it has been left in a state of considerable disrepair, characterized by accumulated refuse, waste, and visible degradation of the facility.
The significant extent of damage to both the grounds and perimeter fencing of the park necessitates immediate financial allocation from taxpayer funds to facilitate restoration efforts. Originally inaugurated to commemorate Ghana’s 50th Independence Anniversary under former President John Agyekum Kufuor, Jubilee Park was designed as a public recreational space for leisure and community events.
The park’s original function was altered approximately three years prior when the then Western Regional Minister, Mr. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, sanctioned its temporary transformation into a market to accommodate traders displaced by the reconstruction of the Takoradi Central Market. Subsequently, vendors were distributed between the New Market and Jubilee Park, with transport operators establishing makeshift terminals, turning the park into a commercial hub.
Concerns regarding the deterioration of Jubilee Park prompted EKMA to implement a strategic decision to relocate all commercial activities to the newly constructed Apremdo Market. Despite the logistical support provided by the Assembly—including transportation for vendors to facilitate the movement of their goods—initial resistance from traders and transport operators was considerable due to apprehensions about customer retention in the new site.
With the relocation now complete, Jubilee Park stands empty, marred by disrepair, and awaits a comprehensive rehabilitation plan aimed at restoring its intended recreational function.
