Gov't business moved to Flagstaff House

President John Dramani Mahama has formally moved government business to the Flagstaff House.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the relocation of the seat of government from the Osu Castle President Mahama said he was happy to honor a promise he made to Ghanaians.

“Today, I am pleased to announce the relocation of the Presidency and the seat of the government of Ghana from the Christianburg Castle, Osu to the Flagstaff House in keeping with an earlier promise I made to the nation. I wish to state that all major operations of the Presidency and the day to day administration of the government of this country will take place here at the flagstaff house.”

The first NDC government under the late President Mills refused to move into the Flagstaff House because of security defects.

President Mahama further explained the delay to move into the Flagstaff House saying, “in 2009, when President John Evans Mills took over the reins of government from President John Agekum Kufuor, a security appraisal of the Flagstaff House raised many challenges that made it inconvenient for the immediate relocation of the Presidency to this site at that time. A few physical defects also including leakages posed a problem.”

President Mahama said though some presidential staff and some activities of government will continue to be held at the castle until the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and regional integration complete its movement to its new building, he hope that the Osu Castle and the Asomdwoe Park would soon be open to public.

“It is my hope that the Castle and the adjoining Asomdwee Park [Burial place for the late President John Mills] will in the near future be opened to the public and photographic activity in and around it will be allowed in order that Ghanaians can have a glimpse of that edifice.”

“The Castle is a store house of rich history from the era of the slave trade to our pre and immediate post colonial period and also provides us with a glimpse into the history of the immediate past presidents and other leaders before them, this will be of immense interest to both local and international tourists,” he added.