According to him, handlers of the president deemed the decision a perfect birthday gift to the president and failed to take into consideration the relevance of the decision to the general Ghanaian populace.

[contextly_sidebar id=”qfUcbTuYfvmoH1HjlYBb0XhRyE9OiNWe”]Speaking on Citi FM’s news analysis and current affairs programme, The Big Issue on Saturday, Victor Adawudu who is also the lawyer for embattled Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Koku Anyidoho  said the move was merely political.

“I see it more as ‘it was the president’s birthday, and the people around him wanted to massage his ego and say that on his birthday, we changed the name to Jubilee House. The president will be happy. Don’t forget that in politics, there is a concept of legacy and ownership, so if we name anything during our tenure, history will have it that it was during the tenure of these people that we called that…”

Victor Kojoga Adawudu who believes there were more important things to be done, added that the government wanted to divert the attention of citizens from the ensuing controversy over its acceptance of the Ghana-US Defence Cooperation Agreement which seeks to allow US military personnel unrestricted access to some vital defence installations in the country.

He said the government was feeling the “pressure” of citizens against its decision on the agreement and so wanted to redirect their concerns to less sensitive matters such as the renaming of the seat of government.

On Thursday March, 29, 2018, which coincides with President Akufo-Addo’s 74th birthday, the government announced that it was renaming the seat of government.

It changed the name from the Flagstaff House to Jubilee House.

The move came a day after thousands of Ghanaians staged a demonstration against the government for ratifying the Ghana-US defence cooperation agreement.

The demonstrators, most of whom were sympathizers of all the opposition parties including the NDC, said the government was selling the country’s sovereignty through the agreement, but the government has defended the decision.

The name of the seat of government

The seat of government was re-built in 2008 during the tenure of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) John Agyekum Kufuor.

The edifice which serves as the office for the president of Ghana was financed and constructed by the India government with $135 million in 2009.

After its construction, it was named the Golden Jubilee House when Ghana was celebrating 50 years since independence, until the National Democratic Congress (NDC) under the late President John Evans Atta-Mills, took over governance in 2009.

Mills moved the office of the president back to the Osu Castle and later changed the sign in front of the building back to its original name, claiming that the previous government had not used a Legislative Instrument to effect the change as required by law.

He was criticized by many who said the name Flagstaff House which was named by the British Gold Coast government glorifies colonialism.

The seat of government was moved back to Flagstaff House in January 2013.

Akufo-Addo gets $1m India money to renovate Jubilee House

The Indian government in August 2017 donated an amount of $1 million dollars to the Akufo-Addo government for the renovation of the edifice.

The donation was made by India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, M.J. Akbar who paid a courtesy call on President Nana Akufo-Addo on the occasion of India’s 70th independence anniversary.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Flagstaff House renamed to boost Nana Addo’s ego – Adawudu appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“Shame, shame, shame on anybody who thinks it should be Flagstaff house.”

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Friday reversed the name of the edifice at Kanda in Accra to Jubilee House, coinciding with his 74^th birthday celebration; a decision which has been criticized by the opposition National Democratic Congress and some members of the general public.

The NDC in a statement described the decision as a diversionary tactic from the Akufo-Addo administration to discourage Ghanaians from discussing the controversial defence cooperation agreement between Ghana and the US.

“…this renaming gimmick is intended to be a cheap diversionary tactic from the overwhelming demand from Ghanaians for President Akufo-Addo to stop mortgaging our sovereignty for a pittance,” the NDC added in the statement.

But Mr Agyarko, while speaking on Citi FM’s news analysis programme, The Big Issue on Saturday, insisted that the old name should not be brought back because it “is a colonial relic.”

“I am saying without equivocation that nobody births a baby and gives him a name and somebody comes to change it. If anybody thinks they want another name, they should build another one. Nothing stops us from having two presidential palaces. It is Jubilee House, and I think it should remain so,” he added.

President’s office was never Flagstaff House

The government has since explained that the name of the seat of government has never been “Flagstaff House.”

The Presidency in a statement said Flagstaff House was rather a separate residential building located at the seat of government.

“Flagstaff House is a separate property located on the premises of the Jubilee House… whereas there is no record evidencing the renaming of the seat of the Presidency as Flagstaff House by His Excellency Professor John Evans Atta Mills, the 3^rd President of the 4^th Republic, in purported exercise of his executive authority,” he said.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Agyarko ‘hoots at’ Ghanaians criticizing renaming of Flagstaff House appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, changing the name of the seat of government from Flagstaff House to Jubilee House, was equally important as it indicates the sovereignty of the country.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Cx3un4c2ecd4DwaOIvnPtSkSENVYuCwK”]The government has been criticized by a section of the public and some opposition parties over its decision on Thursday to rename the seat of government Jubilee House.

But according to the Minister of Information, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, the Jubilee House identity is necessary for freeing Ghana from colonial heritage.

“Will you say let’s continue to live in the slave dungeon at the Christiansburg castle and that there are more important things for us to do than seeking to remove ourselves from our colonial heritage?…. Everything is important including who you are. Who you are is very important so naming this place as Jubilee House is very important in defining our identity as a free people. Everything rises and falls on identity. It is not true that is not important,” he said.

The seat of government was re-built in 2008 during the tenure of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) John Agyekum Kufuor.

The edifice which serves as the office for the president of Ghana was financed and constructed by the Indian government with $135 million in 2009.

After its construction, it was named the Golden Jubilee House when Ghana was celebrating 50 years since independence, until the National Democratic Congress (NDC) under the late President John Evans Atta-Mills, came into power in 2009.

Mills moved the office of the president back to the Osu Castle and later changed the sign in front of the building back to its original name, claiming that the previous government had not used a Legislative Instrument to effect the change as required by law.

He was criticized by many who said the name Flagstaff House, which was given to the building by the British Gold Coast government, glorifies Ghana’s colonial past.

Akufo-Addo gets $1m India money to renovate Jubilee House

The Indian government in August 2017 donated an amount of $1 million dollars to the Akufo-Addo government for the renovation of the edifice.

The donation was made by India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, M.J. Akbar who paid a courtesy call on President Nana Akufo-Addo on the occasion of India’s 70th independence anniversary.

Renaming a ‘diversionary tactic’

Meanwhile, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has described the decision to change the name of the seat of government from Flagstaff House to Jubilee House as a diversionary tactic from the Akufo-Addo administration.

The NDC, in a statement, urged Ghanaians not to lose sight of the fight against the ratification of the controversial defence cooperation agreement between Ghana and the US.

The deal has had some Ghanaians expressing fears that the US Army has been granted permission to establish a military base, though both parties to the agreement have sought to dispell such concerns.

“…this renaming gimmick is intended to be a cheap diversionary tactic from the overwhelming demand from Ghanaians for President Akufo-Addo to stop mortgaging our sovereignty for a pittance,” the NDC stated.

–
By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Renaming Flagstaff House necessary – Gov’t appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

In a statement issued by the Presidency on Thursday, President Akufo-Addo said the name of the seat of government had never been “Flagstaff House” as being purported in publications.

He said, Flagstaff House was rather a separate residential building located at the seat of government.

“Flagstaff House is a separate property located on the premises of the Jubilee House… whereas there is no record evidencing the renaming of the seat of the Presidency as Flagstaff House by His Excellency Professor John Evans Atta Mills, the 3^rd President of the 4^th Republic, in purported exercise of his executive authority,” he said.

President Akufo-Addo’s statement contradicts already existing media reports that President John Atta-Mills had named the facility Flagstaff House from Jubilee House, despite receiving harsh criticisms from a section of the public who said the name was symbolic of Ghana’s oppression from colonialists.

He however added in the statement that “whereas, for historical and tourism purposes, Flagstaff House, which is situated on the premises of Jubilee house be preserved and commemorated as the residence of the 1^st President of Ghana.”

“…In the exercise of the power conferred on the President under article 58 of the Constitution, I, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic, give notice that the seat of the Presidency of Ghana shall, hereafter, be named, known and referred to as Jubilee House, and the property known as Flagstaff House, located on the premises of Jubilee House, shall be preserved and commemorated as such,” the statement further stated.

Citi News’ visit to the presidential complex on the morning of March, 29, 2018, which coincides with President Akufo-Addo’s 74th birthday, showed that the frontage of the facility was being branded Jubilee House.

There had been indications that President Akufo-Addo would change the name to Jubilee House on January 7, 2017, after he assumed office.

Background

The seat of government was re-built in 2008 during the tenure of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) John Agyekum Kufuor.

The edifice which serves as office for the president of Ghana was financed and constructed by the India government with $135 million in 2009.

After its construction, it was named the Golden Jubilee House when Ghana was celebrating 50 years since independence, until the National Democratic Congress (NDC) under the late President John Evans Atta-Mills, took over governance in 2009.

Mills moved the office of the president back to the Osu Castle, and later changed the sign in front of the building back to its original name, claiming that the previous government had not used a Legislative Instrument to effect the change as required by law.

He was criticized by many who said the name Flagstaff House which was given to the building by the British Gold Coast government glorifies Ghana’s Gold Coast past of colonialism.

The seat of government was moved back to Flagstaff House in January 2013.

Akufo-Addo gets $1m India money to renovate Jubilee House

The Indian government in August 2017 donated an amount of $1 million dollars to the Akufo-Addo government for the renovation of the edifice.

The donation was made by India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, M.J. Akbar who paid a courtesy call on President Nana Akufo-Addo on the occasion of India’s 70th independence anniversary.

–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Gov’t explains Flagstaff House name change appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Citi News’ visit to the presidential complex on the morning of March, 29, 2018, which coincides with President Akufo-Addo’s  74th birthday, showed that the frontage of the facility was being branded Jubilee House.

There had been indications that Akufo-Addo would change the name to Jubilee House on January 7, 2017, after he assumed office, but that was not officially communicated.

The seat of government was re-built in 2008 during the tenure of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) John Agyekum Kufuor.

The edifice which serves as office for the president of Ghana was financed and constructed by the India government with $135 million in 2009.

After its construction, it was named the Golden Jubilee House when Ghana was celebrating 50 years since independence, until the National Democratic Congress (NDC) under the late President John Evans Atta-Mills, took over governance in 2009.

Mills moved the office of the president back to the Osu Castle, and later changed the sign in front of the building back to its original name, claiming that the previous government had not used a Legislative Instrument to effect the change as required by law.

He was criticized by many who said the name Flagstaff House which was given to the building by the British Gold Coast government glorifies Ghana’s Gold Coast past of colonialism.

The seat of government was moved back to Flagstaff House in January 2013.

Akufo-Addo gets $1m India money to renovate Jubilee House
The Indian government in August 2017 donated an amount of $1 million dollars to the Akufo-Addo government for the renovation of the edifice.

The donation was made by India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, M.J. Akbar who paid a courtesy call on President Nana Akufo-Addo on the occasion of India’s 70th independence anniversary.

–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Flagstaff House renamed Jubilee House appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.