News:
July 25, 2013
Member of Parliament for Odododiodioo, Nii Lante Alfred Oko Vanderpuije has said the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has done nothing wrong by renaming the National Hockey Pitch after the late President J.E.A Mills.
According to him, the AMA have all the right and power under the Local Government Act in consultation with traditional authorities to name roads and other infrastructure after certain personalities changes as and when the assembly deems it fit.
The AMA on Tuesday arrived at a decision to rename the Theodosia Okoh Hockey Stadium after late President John Evans Atta Mills who played a prominent role in the development and progress of hockey in the country.
A lot of persons including politicians and social commentators have kicked against the move by the city authorities saying it will be disrespecting and dishonoring the over 90 year older Mrs Theodosia Okoh, who designed the national flag and whom the stadium has already been named after.
The decision to name the hockey facility after Mrs Okoh was taken in 2004 after careful deliberations and consultations by a competent group of people who formed a committee set up by the government.
Her role in the development of Ghana hockey, where she was even nicknamed Joan d’Arc of Ghana hockey, is equally recognizable.
However contributing to a discussion on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana show on Thursday, Hon. Nii Lante Vanderpuije stated that he does not know why the issue has generated a lot of brouhaha as they hockey community itself has not raised any objection to the renaming of the sports centre.
He said the hockey pitch as it exist now, was not the very one named after Theodosia Okoh as the complex has been reconstructed and elevated to international standard.
Hon. Nii Lante Vanderpuije noted that though edifices such as the Accra High street, New Judicial building and part of the law school have been named after the late President, renaming other monuments after him will emphasize the love that Ghanaians had for the ex leader and also make future generations learn from the good attributes of the great leader who served his country selflessly.
Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh