Audio By Carbonatix
The Minority in Parliament is alleging complicity by the presidency in the Mayor of Accra's controversial decision to scrap the name of Ghana’s national flag designer, Theodosia Okoh from the National Hockey pitch and replace it with that of the late President John Evans Atta Mills.
The Minority therefore wants a decisive action from President John Mahama to inflict the full penalty on Alfred Vanderpuye, the Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly.
Moreover, the NPP in Parliament insisted that the Presidency should take a huge chunk of the blame and apologize to Ghanaians for the embarrassment.
The minority ranking member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture, Isaac Asiamah told Joy FM's Top Story, Friday, that the decision by the AMA boss should "never be tolerated or accepted... he needs to suffer the consequence".
Though the Chief of Staff, Proper Bani said the decision was taken without recourse to the presidency and ordered a reversal of the decision, Mr Isaac Asiamah said the directive rather exposed the "hypocrisy" at the Office of the President. Unconvinced by the directive, he described the whole back and forth with regards to the renaming as "strange".
He buttressed his assertion on previous events where national assets were renamed under the late John Mills' administration. He cited the renaming of the Ohene Gyan Sports Stadium and the Golden Jubilee House to the Accra Sports Stadium and Flagstaff House respectively.
The decision by the AMA "cannot be a mistake or action by an individual", the MP claimed, adding "government feels so much embarrassed and want to save its image."
He said to avoid a recurrent of any such "dangerous development" as exhibited by Alfred Vanderpuje, there is the need for the enactment of a "decent modern bill" to outline renaming of national assets.
Meanwhile, Dr. Franklin Aduro, Deputy Director at the Centre for Democratic Governance, maintained that Mr Vanderpuje's action "is not new in our governance system".
Citing an instance in 2004 where a district chief executive in the Volta Region renamed a shopping mall after himself, Dr Oduro suggested that the country streamlined its protocol in renaming state's edifice.
He said a clear policy or legislation would define the parameter in which metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies can operate.
He also wants the way political leaders exercise their powers checked.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Russian general killed by car bomb in Moscow, officials say
1 minute -
UCC appeals for financial clearance for recruitment
2 minutes -
Interior Minister commends Christian-Muslim Dialogue group for sustaining peace in Upper West
3 minutes -
It was love at first sight – John Kumah’s widow on how she met new husband
9 minutes -
Don’t credit SML exposure to OSP; it played no role – Dafeamakpor
14 minutes -
Nana Oye urges structured diaspora engagement as Ghana pushes 24-hour economy, export-led growth
21 minutes -
Trade Minister urges manufacturing firms to source locally to drive jobs, industrialisation
22 minutes -
Ghanaians must stop idolising political leaders; they’re servants of the people – Abu Jinapor
26 minutes -
NAPO questions selective renaming of public universities
28 minutes -
Mahama urges Africa-Diaspora unity as reparations debate takes centre stage at Accra summit
30 minutes -
Technical glitch at GRIDCo causes blackout in parts of Kumasi
33 minutes -
Dafeamakpor defends withdrawn OSP repeal bill, says move was to strengthen anti-corruption fight
36 minutes -
NAIMOS clamps down on illegal mining at Kwabeng, seizes excavators and pay loader
50 minutes -
Three-month-old baby, five others killed in late-night fire at Abuakwa Manhyia
1 hour -
Today’s Front pages: Monday, December 22, 2025
1 hour
