Akufo-Addo Roundabout

A BRONZE Statue of Ghana’s President of the Second Republic, His Excellency Edward Akufo-Addo, was unveiled yesterday at the inauguration of a circle named after him at Cantonments.
The circle, formerly called the Cantonments Roundabout, was inaugurated by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) in collaboration with Ghana Telecom (GT).
The statue, which is the first bronze statue to be cast in Ghana by a Ghanaian, stands six feet tall facing the road leading to Danquah Circle.
The Chief Executive of AMA, Mr Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson, at the inauguration said the circle was dedicated to the former President for dedicating his entire life to the service of Ghana and his good works were lasting testimonies for the current and future generations.
He said indeed it was a prestige to honour the nation’s heroes, for “it is said that a nation that does not honour it heroes is not worth dying for”, stating that the members of the ‘Big Six’ deserved to be honoured.
“We have the Obestebi Lamptey Circle, Kwame Nkrumah Circle, and now Edward Akufo-Addo Circle,” he stated, adding that very soon other circles presently under rehabilitation would be named after the remaining historical giants.
He said he pledged to contribute his quota to the beautification and sanitation progress of Accra when he assumed office as the Chief Executive but realising that the venture would require a huge investment that the AMA did not have he begun to forge a healthy relationship with the private sector under the concept of Public-Private Partnership in Development to achieve his goal.
“This strategy paid of well and I would like to acknowledge and commend the Managing Directors of Forewin Ghana Limited, Areeba now MTN and OneTouch who graciously stepped in to carry out the refurbishment of the various circles.”
He revealed that very soon three busts of renowned Ga boxers would occupy a portion of Accra’s landscape, adding that beautification works at the La end of the Ring Road, Nima and Dansoman Roundabout were progressing steadily as expected.
“It therefore behoves its management to ensure that the circle and the facilities are maintained so as to continue to enjoy the admiration, dignity and respect from the public,” he urged, and appealed to the private sector and all residents in Accra to join hands with the AMA to develop the city.
The daughter of the former President, ?????Madame Marigold?????, who represented her family, said she was proud that their father had been immortalised by Ghana for his contribution to free Ghana from colonialism.
She said it was encouraging that the party he led had been able to retain power for eight years and believed that he would be glad to hear that his son had been elected as the flag bearer of the party.
The Chief Executive of GT, Mr Dickson Oduro-Nyaning, said GT saw the AMA invitation as an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to Ghanaians by helping to give the place a new facelift.
He said GT contributed by constructing the six-feet bronze monument, landscaping, gardening and fencing and the lightening of the circle, adding that they believed that the investment would go a long way to improve the country’s image as a tourism destination.
“We want to express our profound gratitude to AMA for offering us the opportunity to serve mother Ghana in this manner,” he said, and prayed that that relationship would grow for the mutual benefit of prospective institutions and mother Ghana.