Jubilee House

Golden Jubilee House, or 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 renamed Golden Jubilee House by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on 29 March 2018. It has previously been known as The Flagstaff House.

This article is about the presidential palace in Accra, Ghana. For the museum in Pakistan alternatively known as "Jubilee House", see Quaid-e-Azam House.

Jubilee House
Jubilee House and Presidential Palace
Former namesFlagstaff House
Alternative namesGolden Jubilee House
General information
LocationAccra, Ghana
InauguratedNovember 2008
Cost$ 35-50 million
OwnerGovernment Of Ghana

History

The Flagstaff House 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.[2] In January 2009, the incoming government of President John Attah 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[3] claiming that the previous government had not used a Legislative Instrument to effect the change as required by law.[4] 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.[5] The seat of government was moved back to Flagstaff House in January 2013 by John Dramani Mahama.[6]

Construction cost

The 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

Re-construction
Golden Jubilee House (Flagstaff House)

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.[13] The NDC government when sworn into office on 7 January 2009 refused to utilize Flagstaff House, preferring Osu Castle as the seat of government.[14] The house was temporarily used as offices for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[15]

References
  1. "Ghana unveils presidential palace". BBC News Online. 10 November 2008. Retrieved 16 February 2009.
  2. "Ghana Opposition Parties Show Concern over Presidential Palace | Voice of America - English". www.voanews.com. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  3. "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.
  4. "Jubilee House has no legal backing". Adom FM Online. 5 October 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  5. "Kufuor Angry Over Jubilee House Renaming". 27 June 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  6. "Seat of Government relocates to Flagstaff House 2013". graphic.com.gh. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  7. Nkrumah, Fathia Archived 1 July 2016 at the Wayback Machine. myjoyonline.com. 14 August 2007.
  8. Osabutey, Phyllis D. (12 July 2009). "Ghana still on a high as Obama party departs". The Independent. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  9. "Mahama takes Akufo-Addo round Flagstaff House". www.myjoyonline.com. 4 January 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  10. "President of Malta arrives in Accra for a three-day state visit". Archived from the original on 27 July 2017.
  11. "President of Sierra Leone visits Ghana – Ministry Of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration". Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  12. Donald Ato Dapatem & Sebastian Syme (3 November 2018). "Let's increase trade - Prez says as he welcomes Prince Charles". www.graphic.com.gh. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  13. Nyaaba, John. "I Did Not Condemn The Ex-President". Retrieved 16 February 2009.
  14. Move to Flagstaff House. 17 August 2011.
  15. "Golden Jubilee House renamed Flagstaff House" Archived 22 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine. myjoyonline.com. 3 August 2010.

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