Thursday, 28 August

GTA refutes 'false claims' about 'Welcome, Woezor, Akwaaba' sign at Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park

Culture
The signage at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park which has become controversial for its use of Ewe and Akan without Ga in welcoming visitors

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has debunked a social media post circulating on Instagram (IG) alleging that they had replaced the inscriptions 'Woezor' (Ewe) and 'Akwaaba' (Akan) with 'Oobakɛ' (Ga) on the newly refurbished Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park signage.

"We wish to categorically state that at no point has the Ghana Tourism Authority ordered or approved the replacement of the culturally significant greetings “Woezor” (in Ewe) and “Akwaaba” (in Akan) with “Oobakɛ”. These inscriptions remain preserved and respected as part of Ghana’s diverse cultural heritage. The GTA cannot replace or change the name on a signage at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park without consultation or approval from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and also in consultation with the Agency in question," a GTA statement, signed by the authority's head Maame Efua Houadjeto explained.  

"The GTA wishes to put in the public domain that we do not know anything about it and we did not order or approve the change of the inscriptions on the signage," the statement emphasised.  

"We, therefore, urge the general public and stakeholders to disregard the false information and continue to support the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park as a symbol of national pride and unity," GTA appealed.

A section of the Ga community have vehemently disapproved of national moments, especially in the Greater Accra Region, their ancestral land, apparently projecting Akan and Ewe. They cited the sign that welcomed guests to the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

Online, some social media users have shared what, apparently, were AI-generated images effecting changes in line with the aforementioned. 

Source: classfmonline.com