NEGLECTED SUNYANI CHILDREN PARK SPARKS FRESH APPEALS FOR REDEVELOPMENT

The Sunyani Children’s Park once envisioned as a vibrant recreational space for children and families in the Bono Region, has fallen into a severe state of disrepair. Once managed with high hopes of nurturing young talent and providing a safe environment for learning and play, the park has now become a shadow of its former self, overrun by overgrown weeds and plagued by illicit activities.

Originally secured in 1968 by the Agricultural Society of Ghana, the park was later fenced in 2000 by the Department of Parks and Gardens to prevent its misuse. Despite these efforts, both the park and its adjoining library have since been abandoned, now lying in ruins due to years of neglect and lack of maintenance.

In response to growing concerns, the Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, Madam Justina Owusu-Banahene, has renewed appeals for support to rehabilitate the park. She emphasized the importance of the park as a safe and educational space where children can not only play but also receive guidance and counseling. The proposed redevelopment plan includes the addition of services aimed at promoting sexual and reproductive health education for adolescents, in a bid to reduce teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections in the municipality.

The Department of Parks and Gardens has echoed these sentiments, advocating for a public-private partnership to help restore the park. They believe that revitalizing the park could generate revenue for the municipality and greatly enhance the overall well-being of residents.

The situation reflects a larger issue facing the region—numerous public projects, including the regional library and other infrastructure developments, have been left incomplete. This pattern of abandonment has sparked dissatisfaction among residents, some of whom have organized protests to express their frustrations with the lack of development in Sunyani and the Bono Region.

Community leaders, including civic advocate Ransford Antwi, have joined the call for action, urging government and development stakeholders to fulfill their promises. According to them, reviving the park is not just about restoring a play area, but about demonstrating a real commitment to community growth, youth development, and public accountability.

Restoring the Sunyani Children’s Park would not only bring joy and learning back to local children but also serve as a critical step toward addressing the broader challenges of infrastructural neglect in the region.