The Assemblyman for Atulbabiisi, a suburb of the Bolgatanga Municipality in the Upper East Region, has strongly refuted claims made by the Regional Minister, Hon. Donatus Akamugri Atanga, that the people of Atulbabiisi are responsible for littering the Bolgatanga Jubilee Park.
According to Hon. Aaron Achingebeh Abongo, the Assemblyman for the area, the Regional Minister’s assertion is both unfair and inaccurate. He stated that the Bolgatanga Jubilee Park has been turned into a de facto lorry station, with drivers and their mates allegedly defecating in the area. The Assemblyman argued that it is unjust to blame the community for the state of the park when, in reality, they are not the ones responsible for the filth.
The controversy began on Saturday, November 1, 2025, when the Regional Minister visited the Bolgatanga Jubilee Park as part of his celebration activities. After a clean-up exercise, the Minister expressed disappointment with the state of the environment and issued a warning to the people of Atulbabiisi, urging them to take responsibility for keeping the park clean.
However, Hon. Abongo countered that the community cannot be held solely responsible for the cleanliness of the park, especially when other users, such as drivers and traders, also contribute to the problem. He further questioned the revenue generated from activities organized at the Jubilee Park, wondering whether the proceeds go to the Assembly or to the Atulbabiisi community.
Furthermore, the Assemblyman revealed that over 15 businesses operate in the park daily, a regular occurrence that leadership appears to ignore. He expressed concern that leaders are quick to blame the community for the park’s poor state yet fail to address the root causes of the problem.
In light of this, Hon. Abongo advised the Regional Minister to focus on improving the management of the Bolgatanga Jubilee Park and to engage with the citizens of Atulbabiisi, rather than making sweeping statements that unfairly target the community.
The controversy underscores the need for a more nuanced approach to addressing the challenges facing the Bolgatanga Jubilee Park and highlights the importance of engaging all stakeholders in finding lasting solutions that benefit everyone.
