Government has refuted allegations by some sections of the public that it was selling the Aburi Botanical Gardens, in Aburi, in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

Interacting with the Media on Monday, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, said government was not selling the gardens but was calling for a Public Private Partnership (PPP) to help upgrade the nature of the gardens.

It will be recalled that last month, the Minister for Tourism Akua Sena Dansoa revealed that the park will soon be sold to private handlers. Many people have bemoaned the decision saying it is a national asset that should not be placed in the hands of any private company.

She said “it’s in a very sorrowful state and so the cabinet has directed that the Ministry of Local Government, under which falls Parks and Gardens, which has responsibility for the parks to divest the park,”

But Mr. Ofosu Ampofo said he said looking at the budgetary allocation for the Ministry, it would take centuries to renovate the place to make it the first choice for leisure and pleasure for both Ghanaians and tourists, hence the need for a PPP to help facilitate the process.

He said the botanical gardens was a national monument and therefore could not be left in the hands of private people.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said it was an area, where government, the traditional council and the assembly could make maximum economic gains adding that all that is being done was within the PPP framework.

“Government believes that when the partnership was created it would enhance the currently deplorable nature of the garden, make it attractive to all, improve on the biodiversity of the garden and provide maximum benefit to the country”.

He urged Ghanaians not to believe in the false claims and gave the assurance that government would do its best to ensure that the botanical garden becomes one of the best in country.