Kumasi Mayor, Kojo Bonsu has been honored by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) for boosting tourism with the first ever recreational park in the Ashanti Region.

The Rattray Park the first of its kind in the country has become a tourist attraction serving as a stress relief for many who throng the place daily. The initiative also serves to improve trade and commerce.

The GTA described the Park, which is a brainchild of the Mayor, “an outstanding recreational Park with international finesse”.

The Authority recognized the Mr. Bonsu’s tourism development initiative with an honorary award and a certificate of excellence at this year’s Ashanti Regional Tourism Awards held in Kumasi.

A citation for him reads: “Your passion for excellence is unparalleled. Your determination to create a unique brand for Kumasi city is noticeable. By dint of hard work and initiative you have created an outstanding recreational park with international finesse and through that, it has opened up Kumasi to international and domestic tourism.

“Your determination to oversee the implementation of projects that will make Kumasi the commercial and cultural hub of West Africa is refreshing and recognized.”

The Ghana Tourism Authority lauded what it described as the Mayor’s exemplary leadership to turn Kumasi around.

The Rattray Park has a dancing fountain, a children’s playground, a gym and beautifully nurtured green scenery and grass which has given residents in and outside Kumasi a place to relax and de-stress.

The Mayor has started an exercise to grow one million trees in Kumasi.

He has also facilitated the redevelopment of the Kejetia and Central Markets.