The renaming of the Golden Jubilee House to Flag Staff House after the National Democratic Congress (NDC) won power in 2009 by late President Atta Mills was reflective of his pettiness, the Member of Parliament for Atiwa East, Abena Osei Asare has said.
Originally called the Flagstaff House when the Ghana’s first president Kwame Nkrumah occupied it in the 1960s, the lavish presidential villa was rebuilt by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government of former John Agyekum Kufuor during the country’s celebration of its 50th independence anniversary, changing the name to Golden Jubilee House.
However, immediately, the NDC assumed the reigns of governance in 2009, the name Golden Jubilee House was reverted to Flagstaff House.
Speaking on the floor of parliament Wednesday March 1, 2017, Mrs. Asare derided the action of the late president, contending that it was unpatriotic and divisive.
With the return of the NPP to the reigns of governance following its outstanding electoral victory in last year’s general elections, many expected the name Golden Jubilee House to be restored in a blink of an eye.
However, President Akufo-Addo believes that instead of using executive order to restore the name Golden Jubilee House, the president has called for a national discourse in re-naming of the presidency.
“I believe we have to settle these matters once and for all and in due course, I propose we have a national conversation and dialogue to this effect which, hopefully will end in legislation that will reflect national consensus,” he said February 21 during his maiden State of the Nation Address.
This, according to Mrs. Asare is an indication of the president’s maturity and lack of vindictiveness saying: “this shows that he is nationalistic, patriotic and a father for all.”
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