The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has denied allegations that it substituted an Akan and Ewe inscriptions on the welcome signs at Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra with a Ga greeting.
Social media reports indicated that the Ga term “Oobakɛ” has replaced the Akan pleasantries “Akwaaba” and “Woezor” (Ewe).
The allegations came after some Ga residents had previously demanded that the park’s signage use their language.
In a statement, GTA Chief Executive Officer, Maame Efua Houadjeto, said the allegations were false.
“We wish to categorically state that at no point has the Ghana Tourism Authority ordered or approved the replacement of the culturally significant greetings ‘Woezor’ (in Ewe) and ‘Akwaaba’ (in Akan) with ‘Oobakɛ’,” she wrote.
She said these inscriptions remain preserved and respected as part of Ghana’s diverse cultural heritage.
She explained that the GTA cannot replace or change the name on a signage at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park without consultation or approval from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and also in consultation with the relevant agency.
Mrs Houadjeto stressed that the GTA has no knowledge of the alleged changes and did not order or approve the change of the inscriptions on the signage. She urged the public and stakeholders “to disregard the false information and continue to support the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park as a symbol of national pride and unity.”
Some members of the Ga community have expressed their disapproval of the exclusion of their language from signs on national infrastructure located on Ga land, which has led to the controversy.
Since then, the discussion has spread to Kotoka International Airport, where some activists are calling for the inscription “Akwaaba” to be changed to “Oobakɛ.”
Credit: 3news.com
