Achiane Adams, CRS-MOI Officer reporting from Recreational Parks Dev. Authority
The Cross River State Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ben Ayade, on Recreational Parks Development Authority, Mokafo Ekpo Okon, has reiterated the Authority’s commitment to ensuring that recreational Parks in the Calabar Metropolis and the State at large are revived and revamped to serve the general public.
This was disclosed by Mokafo Okon, when he paid a courtesy visit to the Principal, Government Secondary School, Atu Street, Calabar South Local Government Area, Mrs Ruth Effiom Eneobong in her office as part of his inspection tour of the Recreational Park located on Mayne Avenue, Calabar.
Mokafo Okon said the parks in the State when properly harnessed and managed, will cater to the tourism, recreational, developmental and environmental needs of the masses.
The Senior Special Assistant said that although his office will continue to liaise with the secondary school concerning the park as over the years, the school has been the caretaker of the Park but as such it has become pertinent for the Park to return back to government for a more coordinated supervision.
Welcoming the Senior Special Assistant and his team, the Principal, Government Secondary School, Atu, Calabar South Local Government Area, Mrs Ruth Effiom Eneobong, thanked the government for coming to the rescue of the field saying that the take-over is a long time coming as the purpose of the Park has long been eroded.
Mrs Eneobong also added that the school over the years have suffered incessant break-ins and vandalization that happens as a result of the Park sharing premises with the School.
“The School had to be fenced round as trespassers, during and after school hours, use the Park through the School premises to access Atu or Mayne Avenue streets. Although, the fence has curtailed access-gaining issue, it has not stopped it completely”. She pointed out.
Part of the inspection team was the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism Development, Dr. Samson Ogar, who was represented by the Director of Tourism, MCTD, Mr. Daniel Akeke, among others.
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