Jubilee Flagstaff House Name Change...A Genuine Mistake

Mr. Kofi Adams, Deputy General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) says the writing of �Jubilee Flagstaff House� on the letterhead of the Office of the President was a genuine error. The hullabaloo surrounding the change of name of the Presidential edifice was re-ignited once again this week. Information and Media Relations Minister, Mahama Ayariga, confirmed to Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peacefm's "Kokrokoo" on Wednesday that the name of the edifice has been changed from Flagstaff House to �Jubilee Flagstaff House�. His confirmation followed two press statements that were released by the Executive Secretary to the President, Dr Raymond Atuguba which first gave indications of a change of name from 'Flagstaff House' to 'Jubilee Flagstaff house. But on Thursday, a Presidential Staffer, Stan Dogbe, wrote on his social media platform wall, Facebook, that �there has been no change in the name of the Flagstaff House. Such change would have been reflected and communicated long ago. The fault is ours, and we accept it and apologizes to all�. According to Stan Dogbe, the name �Jubilee Flagstaff House� that appeared on the President's official letter of correspondence, was a typographical error. The debate on the change of name of the seat of government took center stage when then President John Agyekum Kufuor reconstructed the building which used to be the abode of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and christened it �Golden Jubilee House�. However, when the mantle of leadership fell into the hands of the NDC under ex-President John Evans Atta Mills, it was reverted to Flagstaff house. Contributing to panel discussions on Friday�s edition of "Kokrokoo", Kofi Adams who was just reinstated this week as the ruling party's Deputy General Secretary following the lifting of his suspension, concurred with Stan Dogbe that no change of name has been effected and that it was only a genuine mistake. According to Kofi Adams, a letter of congratulations that the President recently wrote to the newly elected Pope Francis I, has �Flagstaff House� embossed on it as the letterhead; indicating that the name has not changed. �The name has not changed; it is still Flagstaff house, the inscription is still there. Proofreading is very key. When you rush to put out news, you end up making mistakes that is very very embarrassing�Sometimes in government communication, it must be official and authentic and must come from the appropriate source. "When a mistake is made, the minister in charge is the one to bear the consequences. Sometimes when you are talking on behalf of government let it be what is coming from the presidency and not what one thinks�,� Mr Adams stated. Notwithstanding, he has called on government to respond and inform Ghanaians about the actual name of the Presidential Palace.