GTA denies replacing 'Akwaaba' and 'Woezor' with Ga greeting at Nkrumah Park

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has refuted claims that Akan and Ewe greetings on the welcome signage at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park have been replaced with a Ga-language inscription.

Recent social media posts alleged that the greetings ‘Akwaaba’ (Akan) and ‘Woezor’ (Ewe) were removed and substituted with the Ga word ‘Oobakɛ’, following demands by some Ga residents for greater linguistic representation at the landmark.

However, in an official statement, GTA Chief Executive Officer, Maame Efua Houadjeto dismissed the reports as false.
“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 ‘Akwaba’ (in Akan) with ‘Oobakɛ’,” she said.

She emphasised that the current inscriptions remain intact and continue to showcase the nation’s cultural diversity. Any proposed changes to signage, she added, would require approval from both the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and other relevant bodies.

Mrs. Houadjeto also clarified that the GTA had no involvement in any such alteration and urged the public to disregard what she described as misinformation.

The controversy stems from longstanding concerns within the Ga community about linguistic inclusivity, particularly on public infrastructure located on Ga land. The debate has recently extended to Kotoka International Airport, where some advocates are now calling for the “Akwaaba” sign to be changed to “Oobakɛ.”

Images circulating online appearing to show this change are believed to be digitally altered or AI-generated.