The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has refuted viral reports suggesting that the Akan word “Akwaaba” and the Ewe word “Woezor” on the welcome signage at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park have been replaced with the Ga greeting “Oobakɛ.”
In a press statement, GTA CEO Maame Efua Houadjeto described the reports as “false and misleading,” stressing that the inscriptions remain unchanged and continue to reflect Ghana’s rich cultural diversity.
She further explained that any modification to such national monuments would require clearance from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, as well as other relevant state agencies, adding that the GTA “has not sanctioned any alteration.”
The controversy was sparked after sections of the Ga community demanded that their language be represented on monuments situated on Ga land. The debate intensified online when AI-generated images surfaced, depicting “Akwaaba” swapped with “Oobakɛ” on the signage.
This latest dispute mirrors earlier conversations surrounding the “Akwaaba” inscription at the Kotoka International Airport, where similar demands for inclusion from the Ga community have also been raised.
For now, the GTA maintains that the signage at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park remains as originally designed, emphasising its commitment to celebrating Ghana’s cultural and linguistic plurality without distortion.
Find the Press Statement by GTA below:
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Story by Kelvin B. Annor-Yeboah | univers.ug.edu.gh
