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The Ghana Tourism Authority has strongly refuted claims circulating on social media that it replaced the Akan and Ewe inscriptions “Akwaaba” and “Woezor” with the Ga greeting “Oobakɛ” on the welcome signs at Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra.
According to GTA Chief Executive Officer, Maame Efua Houadjeto, the allegations are entirely false. “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 stated.
The controversy began when some Ga residents demanded that the park’s signage include their language, sparking a heated debate about cultural representation and national identity. Despite the criticism, the GTA maintains that the original inscriptions remain preserved and respected as part of Ghana’s diverse cultural heritage.
The Authority emphasized that any changes to signage at the park would require prior consultation and approval from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, as well as relevant agencies. Since the GTA did not authorize or approve any alterations, they urged the public to disregard the misinformation and continue supporting the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park as a symbol of national pride and unity ³.
The discussion has extended beyond the park, with some activists calling for the inscription “Akwaaba” at Kotoka International Airport to be changed to “Oobakɛ”. The controversy highlights the complexities of cultural representation in Ghana, where different ethnic groups have distinct languages and traditions
