Children at Play in Mmofra Park

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Smith, A. (2018, June 26). Playing it Forward by Honouring the Past in Accra. Retrieved from https://playgroundology.wordpress.com/2018/06/26/playing-it-forward-by-honouring-the-past-in-accra/

Smith, A. (2018, June 26). Playing it Forward by Honouring the Past in Accra. Retrieved from https://playgroundology.wordpress.com/2018/06/26/playing-it-forward-by-honouring-the-past-in-accra/

Accra, Ghana is home to Mmofra Park. The name translates to "Children's Place" in Akan, the official language of the indigenous Akan people of Ghana.

Mmofra Place was constructed following concern over Accra’s urban planning:

  1. There was an increasing percentage of young Ghanaians living in the city,

  2. The urban center was rapidly growing, and

  3. Children were losing safe spaces to explore and play close to home.

The Mmofra Foundation, having been in existence since the early 1990s, decided to direct funds and efforts into creating a park within the city, safe from the encroaching urban sprawl. To this end they collaborated with a variety of local and international stakeholders and claimed a 2-acre plot of land accessible to residents for the park.

Today the park is used as a play space for youth as well as an artistic space for adults who practice indigenous languages, learn about environmental sustainability, and for those simply looking to enjoy nature within the city.

Mmofra Park’s existence is indicative of a growing movement of art and culture in Accra, from a grassroots position. By supporting the active play of its younger generations, Accra provides the framework for a productive, healthy, and artistic future city population.