Social media has been buzzing with heated debate after some Ga citizens passionately called on authorities to replace or amend signage at key national monuments and entry points to reflect the Ga language.
Currently, the Kotoka International Airport welcomes travelers with the iconic “Akwaaba”— a Twi expression for “welcome.”
While this has long been regarded as Ghana’s universal greeting, members of the Ga-Adangme community argue that the airport sits on Ga land, and so their word “Oobake” should be equally highlighted.
The same concerns have been raised about the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, where “Akwaaba” (Twi) and “Woezor” (Ewe) are boldly inscribed, but “Oobake” is noticeably absent. To many Gas, this feels like a cultural oversight and a lack of respect for their heritage.
Weighing in on the matter, Hon. Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, Greater Accra Regional Minister, emphasized the importance of cultural recognition in national spaces:
“It’s a Ga-Adangme land, I’m a regional minister… I protect the values of all Ga-Adangmes because Greater Accra isn’t just about being a capital, culturally we have to accord some high level of respect! It’s a cultural setting. Respect it.”
Supporters of the move insist that including “Oobake” is not just symbolic but also a respectful recognition of the Ga people, whose identity is often overshadowed by the dominance of Twi in national discourse.
Critics, however, argue that “Akwaaba” has already become a unifying national symbol, recognized globally as Ghana’s warmest greeting.
