Founder’s Day, Flagstaff House to be renamed – President reveals

President Nana Akufo-Addo has hinted at moves to rename the Flagstaff House and Founder’s Day holiday.

The name of the seat of government was reverted to Flagstaff House when the late Prof. Mills’ administration assumed power in 2009 from the Kufuor government’s preferred Jubilee House.

The Akufo-Addo government is anticipated to revert to the Jubilee House but the President wants a national dialogue on how to name the seat of government.

The President also seems unhappy that Founder’s Day public holiday only acknowledges and celebrates Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

The day was instituted by the erstwhile Atta Mills administration to celebrate the achievements and birthday of the man who is credited for the attainment of Ghana’s independence.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has always argued that the day should also recognise the contributions of the “Big Six” and other persons who played significant roles in Ghana’s independence struggle.

President Akufo-Addo in his first State of the Nation’s Address repeated the argument of the NPP saying the debate over the Flagstaff House and Founder’s Day is outstanding.

“In my view, it is not right that 60 years after independence these matters are still at large. It does not inure to the dignity of the Ghanaian Republic that such matters have become subject to political football,” he hinted, adding a national dialogue is necessary to get a law that will resolve the matter.