General News of 2013-03-15

Debate on 'Jubilee Flagstaff House' is petty – Adu Asare

Immediate past Member of Parliament for Adenta constituency, Kojo Adu Asare has described as "a total waste of time" the raging debate about the sudden change of name of the presidential palace.

According to him, no discerning Ghanaian will waste time on a flimsy issue like renaming Flagstaff House as Jubilee Flagstaff House at a time he says the country is bedeviled with water and power crisis.

The presidential palace christened Golden Jubilee House by the erstwhile Kufuor administration was reverted to its original name, Flagstaff House by the late President Atta Mills. In the latest twist, the edifice has been renamed Jubilee Flagstaff House by President Mahama.

Even though Information Minister, Mahama Ayariga has justified the name change, a presidential staffer Stan Dogbe maintains that the name of the presidential palace remains unchanged.

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) say renaming the edifice Jubilee Flagstaff House has exposed the NDC’s double standards.

But speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Thursday, Kojo Adu-Asare expressed shock at the level of attention given to such a flimsy issue.

He said the needless debate about the change of name in the media landscape will not solve the bread and butter issues confronting Ghanaians.

Adu-Asare noted that given the socio-economic crisis in the country, government does not have the luxury to be defending something that will not bring a lasting solution to problems confronting the nation.

"This country needs thinkers; people should be thinking about how to solve the energy crisis and not debate about changing the name of an edifice which is Ghana’s asset," he added.

He said the alacrity with which the NPP has 'pounced' on the issue is frightening to Ghana’s growing democracy.

The NDC man intimated that the failure of NPP to win the 2012 elections has turned into anger, frustration and hatred and thus is quick to politicize every issue.

Adu-Asare said the explanation given by the Information Minister is enough to put matters to rest.