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02.04.2007 General News

Dr. Busia honoured-Akuafo intersection renamed after Dr. K. A. Busia

02.04.2007 LISTEN
By Xoese DOGBE

It has been confirmed to the dailyEXPRESS that what used to be the Akuafo Intersection (formerly 37 roundabout) is set to be re-named after the Progress Party's Dr. K. Abrefa Busia, who was Prime Minister in the 2nd Republic.

A statue of Dr. Busia is already in place awaiting inauguration at a date yet to be announced.

No official explanation has been given for stripping the honour accorded the country's farmers with the naming of the intersection after them, but this paper has gathered that government through its agencies is working to name a number of sites and monuments after prominent citizens of the country.

At a time when pro-Nkrumahist groups and some non-political elements have been complaining about the 'seeming neglect' of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in the Jubilee celebration, the expected unveiling of a Dr. Busia statue is expected to generate some more political furore in the country.

“Sometimes I don't understand our people… they should have at least put the Nkrumah Circle in shape and got a statue there as well before doing this ones” was the response of a senior government official to a view expressed by this reporter about possible public criticism.

Worse still is the revelation that the Cantonments Roundabout (popularly known as Togo Embassy roundabout) where trees were chopped down, incurring the displeasure of environmentalists, is to be named after Edward Akuffo Addo, President in the 2nd Republic.

Work is currently on-going there, with no date announced for the unveiling.

The construction and expected renaming of the two sites after personalities from the UP/Danquah tradition will bring to four (4), the number of personalities from the tradition recognised with prime locations in Accra.

The rest are the Obetsebi Lamptey Circle and Danquah Circle, which were designated as such long before the ruling NPP came to power.

Other sites named after important personalities in Accra are the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Ako Adjei Interchange (known more as the Sankara Circle) and the King Tackie Tawiah Overpass (popularly known as Kanda Overpass).

A new Interchange at Alajo will be named after Paa Grant, financier of the pre-Independence UGCC while the airport roundabout has been designated the Big Six Roundabout.

Recently, the road from the soon to be re-christened Busia Intersection, all the way to the Dimples Junction traffic light was named after Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.

dailyEXPRESS has gathered that government has plans to also name some a road, structure or edifice after Dr. Hilla Limann of the 3rd Republic and Jerry John Rawlings, the only surviving former head of state.

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