The commissioning took place after a brief ceremony on July 24, 2022, which was attended by a number of sympathizers and the former President’s loved ones.
Akufo-Addo stated in a message posted to his Facebook page that he made the decision to rebuild the Asondwe Park after learning of its poor condition.
“On Sunday, 24th July 2024, I commissioned the rehabilitated Asomdwoe Park, the final resting place of the 3rd President of the 4th Republic, the late Prof. John Evans Fiifi Atta-Mills,” the President said
“Sometime after becoming President, I became aware of the sad state of Asomdwoe Park, and, in 2020, I received a request from the late President’s energetic Communications Director, Koku Anyidoho, who runs the Institute named after the President, for the assistance of Government to rehabilitate the facility. I agreed, and, subsequently, I instructed the Coastal Development Authority to undertake a thorough rehabilitation of the Park, with the close co-operation of the Institute.
“It was not right that the Park had been allowed to deteriorate considerably over the years since his burial in 2012, and I am happy that it was under the Presidency of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, allegedly his “fiercest critic”, that Asomdwoe Park has been elevated to a status befitting the final resting place of a President of the Republic of Ghana.
In addition, Akufo-Addo said that he did not upgrade Atta Mills’ final resting site in order to gain political advantage and sent his condolences to the deceased former president’s family.
“I did so with that objective solely in mind, and not to exploit or take advantage of any so-called divisions in the political party to which he belonged. Those alleged divisions are not of my making, and do not, in any way, inure to my benefit.
“My wife Rebecca and our children join me and the Government in reiterating our sincere condolences to his wife, Naadu, his son, his entire family, to the National Democratic Congress, and, indeed, to the people of Ghana for their great loss. The man from Ekumfi Otuam will not be forgotten,” he added.
Atta Mills passed away in 2012, and today marks the exact 10-year anniversary of his tragic passing.