Surf Ghana’s Freedom Skatepark, which US Vice President Kamala Harris recently visited during her visit to Ghana, has been forced to close due to violent threats by illegal workers attempting to build a wall on the premises.
The closure occurred without warning or explanation, prompting the park’s owner, Sandy Alibo, to make an appeal for assistance via her Instagram story on Sunday morning.
The Surf Ghana community is well-known for promoting a skateboarding and surfing culture in Ghana, and the park’s closure has devastated its members.
In her Instagram story, Alibo expressed her disappointment with the situation and urged people to band together to help resolve it.
According to reports, the illegal workers claimed to have been hired to build the wall on the premises by unknown individuals.
The workers, who are accused of threatening employees and vandalizing the park, were eventually removed from the premises by police. However, the damage had already been done, and the park had to be temporarily closed.
“A man gave instructions to a team to build a wall in front of the children coming to skate in the middle of day. #senseofhumanity. The same didn’t want to provide us his identity neither official documents proving he is the landowner,” a statement on their social media read.
The park’s closure has sparked outrage among members of the Surf Ghana community, who are demanding immediate action to resolve the issue.
Vic Mensa, a Ghanaian-American rapper, took to Twitter to condemn the unknown assailants’ actions.
🇬🇭 STOP THESE THIEVES TRYING TO STEAL FREEDOM SKATE PARK 🇬🇭 https://t.co/rxbus8ZvjH
— Vic Mensa (@VicMensa) April 30, 2023
The community is well-known for its dedication to promoting surfing and skateboarding culture in Ghana, and the park’s closure is seen as a significant setback to its efforts.
The facility was outfitted with an internet cafe, bathrooms, and a store that sold skate gear and trained novice skaters; an investment heavily sponsored by the international community.
Virgil Ablorh, the late Ghanaian American fashion designer, and his Off-White brand, shoe brand Vans, Daily Paper, and other local partners collaborated to make this dream a reality.
The Surf Ghana community, a non-governmental organization that promotes outdoor sports in the West African country, has been instrumental in providing a platform for young Ghanaians to express themselves through surfing and skateboarding.
The park’s closure is a setback for the community and may result in the loss of a valuable platform for young people in Ghana to express themselves.
