President Kufour Yet To Occupy Castle Residence

Three years after President Kufour assumed office, he is yet to take up residence at the Osu Castle, the seat of government. The President still commutes to office daily from his private residence at the Airport residential area.

Government sources say the Castle is still not suitable for the President to reside there even after renovation works at the cost of over a billion cedis.


By the end of the year, the President will have served his first four-year term in office still living in his private residence instead of the Castle, which is the official residence for a sitting president.


In 2001, President Kufour expressed concern about the discomfort his motorcade and sirens cause both road users and his neighbours at the Airport residential area.


These concerns necessitated the speedy execution of renovation works at the Castle, which cost the state ?1.5b.

However, it is still not clear why the president continues his daily trips to and from the Castle and inconveniencing motorist on a daily basis.


The Minister of Works and Housing at the time of the Castle renovations, Kwamena Bartels, could not tell JoyNews why the President failed to take up residence at the Castle after the renovation works.


The former National Security Adviser, Joshua Hamidu, is reported to have advised against the move citing security reasons.


So, the question remains as to whether the President will move into his official residence anytime soon or if he gets a second term in office after the December general elections.