Jubilee House is the presidential palace in Accra that serves as a residence and office to the President of Ghana.[1] Jubilee House is built on the site of a building that was constructed and used for administrative purposes by the British Gold Coast Government. The previous seat of government of Ghana was Osu Castle. It was named Golden Jubilee House by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on 29 March 2018 to coincide with the 50th year of Ghana's independence. It has since reverted to Jubilee House.[2] It has previously been known as The Flagstaff House.
| Jubilee House | |
|---|---|
 Jubilee House and Presidential Palace | |
 | |
| Former names | Flagstaff House |
| Alternative names | Golden Jubilee House |
| General information | |
| Location | Accra, Ghana |
| Inaugurated | November 2008 |
| Cost | $ 35–50 million |
| Owner | Government of Ghana |
History
editThe Flagstaff House, as it was previously known, was reconstructed and inaugurated by the government of John Agyekum Kufour with the name Golden Jubilee House in November 2008 when construction was about 70%–80% completed.[3] In January 2009, the incoming government of President John Atta Mills moved the office of the president back to Osu Castle and later changed the sign in front of the building back to its original name[4] claiming that the previous government had not used a Legislative Instrument to effect the change as required by law.[5] The Mills government was in turn criticized that the name Flagstaff House which was given to the building by the British Gold Coast government glorifies Ghana's Gold Coast past.[6] The seat of government was moved back to Flagstaff House in January 2013 by John Dramani Mahama.[7]
Construction cost
editThe original budget for the reconstruction of $30m was a grant from the Indian government. However, BBC journalist David Amanor reported the construction may have cost as much as $45–50m. Building of the palace was overseen by an Indian contractor who used Ghanaian sub-contractors.[1]
Notable events
edit- On 24 February 1966, soldiers stormed Flagstaff house as part of a military coup ousting Ghana's First President Kwame Nkrumah[8] in a coup supported by the CIA.[citation needed]
- In 2002, thousands of Liberian women led by Leymah Gbowee staged a silent protest outside the previous presidential palace in Accra and demanded a resolution to the country's civil war. Their actions brought about an agreement that achieved peace in Liberia after a 14-year civil war. The story is told in a 2008 documentary film called Pray the Devil Back to Hell[9]
- On 4 June 2017, President John Dramani Mahama took then President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo on a tour of the Jubilee house.[10]
- On 26 July 2017, Mrs. Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, president of Malta and her spouse, Edgar Preca visited the Jubilee House.[11]
- On 6 April 2018, Mr. George M. Weah, President of Liberia, visited the Jubilee house.
- On 22 October 2018, Brigadier (Rtd.) Julius Madaa Bio, president of Sierra Leone visited the Jubilee House.[12]
- On 2 November 2018, Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla visited the Jubilee House.[13]
Re-construction
edit
The re-construction of the presidential palace and building by the government of John Agyekum Kufour, who belonged to the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), was criticized by the opposition party National Democratic Congress (NDC) during the 2008 elections.[14] The NDC government when sworn into office on 7 January 2009 refused to utilize Flagstaff House, preferring Osu Castle as the seat of government.[15] The house was temporarily used as offices for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[16]
References
edit- ^ a b "Ghana unveils presidential palace". BBC News Online. 10 November 2008. Retrieved 16 February 2009.
- ^ "Flagstaff House renamed Jubilee House". Citi FM online. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ "Ghana Opposition Parties Show Concern over Presidential Palace | Voice of America - English". VOA news. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ "Golden Jubilee House renamed Flagstaff House". Ghana Broadcasting Corporation News Online. 10 November 2008. Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
- ^ "Jubilee House has no legal backing". Adom FM Online. 5 October 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
- ^ "Kufuor Angry Over Jubilee House Renaming". 27 June 2011. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ "Seat of Government relocates to Flagstaff House 2013". Graphic Ghana. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
- ^ Nkrumah, Fathia Archived 1 July 2016 at the Wayback Machine. MyJoyOnline. 14 August 2007.
- ^ Osabutey, Phyllis D. (12 July 2009). "Ghana still on a high as Obama party departs". The Independent. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ "Mahama takes Akufo-Addo round Flagstaff House". MyJoyOnline. 4 January 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
- ^ "President of Malta arrives in Accra for a three-day state visit". Archived from the original on 27 July 2017.
- ^ "President of Sierra Leone visits Ghana – Ministry Of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration". Retrieved 21 September 2019.
- ^ Donald Ato Dapatem & Sebastian Syme (3 November 2018). "Let's increase trade - Prez says as he welcomes Prince Charles". Graphic Ghana. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
- ^ Nyaaba, John. "I Did Not Condemn The Ex-President". Retrieved 16 February 2009.
- ^ Move to Flagstaff House Archived 11 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine. 17 August 2011.
- ^ "Golden Jubilee House renamed Flagstaff House" Archived 22 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine. MyJoyOnline. 3 August 2010.