A CALL FOR MORE RECREATIONAL CENTRES IN GHANA

Introduction:

Children as well as adults need recreation in their lives and this necessitates the need for recreational centres. Research has shown that recreation contributes to life satisfaction, quality of life, health and wellness, and that the use of recreation as a diversion may have clinical applications to individuals with chronic pain and other health impairments. Recreational activities are leisure time activities that a person takes part for amusement, pleasure or relaxation rather than as work. Recreational activities present a chance for physical and mental refreshment of the mind. 

With all these benefits derived from recreation, there are inadequate recreational centres and facilities in Ghana. Recreation has not been accorded the necessary importance it deserves in Ghana in relation to the provision of social and infrastructural amenities by the government. Areas earmarked for provision of recreational centres are randomly developed or neglected completely and in their place are unauthorised developments and encroachment for other land uses.

Increase in urbanization has resulted in housing problems where open spaces are now being developed to accommodate the increasing population. There is also the need to provide recreational facilities to cater for the populace. Drinking pubs are rapidly becoming an eminent recreational joint due to the inadequate recreation centres. The youth of today wrongly use their leisure time drinking and smoking. Due to the inadequacy of recreation centres people resort to commercial discotheques and cinema houses but the average person cannot afford to attend these commercial recreational areas because of high charges. The poor and the excluded also have the perception that recreation is only for the affluent and the well to do in society due to the high cost of recreation.  

Although people of all classes need recreation, little is being done to cater for recreational needs. People are left to find their own source of recreation at any cost. All these explain the relevance of recreation to human beings and that recreation is a necessity not a luxury.

Recommendations:

•          Education and Publicity

It is very important that people are educated on the subject of recreation. This is because people attach little or no importance to recreation partly because they have no knowledge on the benefits of recreation. There are certain people who abuse recreation and indulge in certain acts which are not acceptable in the society. Certain faction of people have the motive recreation is about drinking alcohol, smoking and engaging in acts of sexual promiscuity. They are therefore to be educated to erase the uncultured notion and taught that recreation is about freely chosen participation in socially acceptable pursuits that revitalize the mind, body, and spirit, promoting societal well being.

•          Accessible

It should be obligatory that all recreational facilities are sited at very accessible and easy to reach places for maximum utilization of the facilities. These facilities should be made close to the communities and busy areas for high patronage.

•          Environmentally and Human Friendly

Recreational centres should be environmentally and human friendly. Dustbins and places of convenient should be provided at these centres to cater for waste materials. Recreational centres should be equipped with the requisite facilities that will attract people to these centres. Also, security should be tightened at these centres to avoid drug barons, lunatics and stray animals from taking over recreational centres as their place of abode.

•          Effective Monitoring Mechanisms

There must be a routine monitoring by authorities to ensure early detection of unauthorised developments. Places demarcated as public open spaces should be strictly adhered to and enforced to reduce and if possible eliminate the occurrence of unauthorized structures taking over demarcated public open spaces. 

Conclusion:

Recreation and recreational centres are credited with lots of advantage to users and as well operators of these centres. Therefore, there is the need for maximum attention to improve existing facilities at recreational centres and also new ones identified and developed.