More name changes in the offing

The ruling National Democratic Congress government is set to change the names of key government buildings in the country. This was revealed by a member of the government¹s legal team, Lawyer David Annan.

First it was the name change from the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium to the old Accra Sports Stadium. The mayor of Accra, Alfred Vanderpuije explained that the name change was in line with the AMA¹s millennium city project.

According to him, the AMA received countless petitions from people to have the name changed, saying something was taken away from the people of the Ga state when the edifice was named Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in 2004.

The more recent change has to do with the over 70 million dollar Golden Jubilee House. The name of the building which is supposed to serve as the official seat of the president has been changed to its former name, the Flagstaff House. The house, which was constructed by the Kufuor administration amidst criticisms from the then opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) now has ŒFlagstaff¹ written on its walls.

Though there have not been any explanations from any government official, news sources say the idea of the name change has been in the works for some time now.

Lawyer David Annan told Emefa Apawu, host of the Big Bite on Xfm 95.1, a private commercial radio station in Accra, that the government will revert the names of every national structure to its original name if it deems it necessary.³When there was any change of name which was unnecessary, we believe that it is the proper thing to do to give it the original name for continuity. So therefore, if it is deem appropriate, it would be done², Mr Annan said.

Asked whether the NDC is not doing the same thing it accused the NPP of doing when in government, Mr Annan answered in the negative. He said unlike the Flagstaff House, the NPP government did not construct the Accra Sports Stadium and so had no right to rename it. ³In our case, we are not giving the Accra Sports Stadium any new name, it has always been the Accra Sports Stadium, and that is the original name we have re-christened the stadium. When it comes to the Flagstaff House, that is the name Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the man who originally conceived the idea, gave to the structure. So there is a difference between the NPP giving structures new names and what the NDC is doing now.²

Lawyer David Annan said the NPP can choose to change these names again if they come to power, however, he added that, ³but for now, while we are in power, we¹ll not have that structure called Jubilee House². Meanwhile, the NPP has accused the NDC of engaging in an orchestrated effort to wipe off the name of immediate past president, John Agyekum Kufuor and his achievements.

Spokesperson for Mr Kufuor, Frank Agyekum told Adom fm, a Tema based local radio station that the efforts to change the names of Mr Kufuor¹s achievements bordered on pettiness and that it will not wash.

Story by Abena Asiedua Tenkorang/ Robert Israel, Xfm 95.1 Accra, Ghana