Honouring Ghanaians: Street names, signage?
Of the many occurrences during the week, perhaps the most discussed was the report of the three-man committee led by Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, which investigated the death of 29-year-old engineer Charles Amissah on February 6, 2026.
This was after three hospitals: Police, Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge) and Korle Bu did not receive him from an Ambulance Service vehicle on the grounds of “no-bed syndrome” after being the victim of a hit and run. By the way, who hit him and ran away?
A second news item that got Ghanaians commenting copiously was the statement made and later retracted by a government official that officials who gave permits for building on the Sakumo Ramsar Wetlands, Tema, will be posted to the North as punishment!
That reminded me of my Daily Graphic article in February 2022 titled, “Posting to Tamale or Transfer to Enchi?”
However, since these two subjects have been extensively discussed, I would rather discuss a relatively less seen/heard-of and seemingly innocent topic during the week, one of a road-signage gaffe.
Wednesday, May 6, 2026, started with the chat below.
Chat
“General, good morning. I have just driven past the Veterans Association of Ghana (VAG) and seen that the signage of the road in front of the Centre is named after ‘Ahmadou Ahodjo’. Something tells me they meant ‘Ahidjo,’ the first president of Cameroon. If I am right, then the name has been misspelt.
If I am wrong, then apologies for disturbing your morning.”
The road in question is the first turn, which goes off Independence Avenue immediately after the King Tackie Tawiah Overpass, and passes in front of the VAG/RCOA (Retired Commissioned Officers Association) Clubhouse and Ghana Immigration Service Headquarters.
My immediate investigation yielded the following response:
“Sir, the observation is right. The correct name should have read “Ahmadou Ahidjo”, not “Ahmadou Ahodjo.”
We shall draw AMA’s attention to it. Many thanks to Prof. Sir.”
In any case, who is Ahmadou Ahidjo and what is his relationship with Ghana to have such an important street named after him, with his name wrongly spelt?
He was the first President of Cameroon and ruled from 1960 – 1982, when on health grounds he handed over to the incumbent President Paul Biya.
In 1984, Ahidjo was accused of plotting a coup against Paul Biya and sentenced to death in absentia for treason.
He died in exile in 1989 at age 65 in Senegal, where he was buried.
Subsequent attempts by his family to have his remains sent back to Cameroon were rejected by the Biya government.
Question
Having initiated action to solve the immediate problem of a spelling error, I went further with the question:
“Prof., beyond this spelling issue, why name a street after a former foreign leader whose name many Ghanaians have never heard, at this time of the 21st century?
Don’t we have Ghanaians who deserve this honour better?”
Before the answer, Ghana’s foremost playwright, Uncle Ebo Whyte, has consistently said, and backed his claim with concrete examples, that the Ghanaian is not happy with the success of a fellow Ghanaian.
A few “patriotic” Ghanaians disagree with him despite the evidence all over.
Not surprisingly, the answer to my question was, “You are very right. I speak about that in one of my lectures in the book.
Ahidjo is still buried in Senegal because the government will not let him come home. Our self-hatred makes us do those things.
Better an irrelevant stranger than a local whose success may be considered a judgment on ourselves.”
The question is, why are we so mean to ourselves as Ghanaians?
In the 1970s, a wooden truck “bone-shaker” passenger vehicle plying the Teshie-Accra route had this inscription at the back, “DIRTY ENVIOUS!” Uncle Ebo agrees in toto!
A few years ago, when “Traditional Ghanaian Hospitality” was discussed on TV, it was touted as a strong point for Ghanaians.
However, when the question was put on the direction of such hospitality, the answer was, “To foreigners.”
The initial strong patriotic stance gradually crumbled as superior arguments were advanced to debunk the idea of Ghanaians being hospitable to Ghanaians.
For the authorities responsible for naming not only streets, but also national monuments/edifices after individuals, while not dismissing the naming of streets after reputable foreigners like President Obasanjo of Nigeria in recent times, one can identify countless more deserving Ghanaians.
There are outstanding Ghanaians in all fields: Science & Technology, Academia, Medicine, Aviation, the Military, the Creative Arts, etc.
Military
With my military background and probably expected bias, a few names readily come to mind. The late Lt Gen. Emmanuel Alexander Erskine was the first Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in 1978, having earlier served as Ghana’s Army Commander.
Lt Gen. Seth Kofi Obeng subsequently commanded UNIFIL from 1999 to 2001. Between 2001 and 2005, Gen. Obeng served as the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) of the Ghana Armed Forces.
Maj. Gen. NA Odartey-Wellington, who was the Chief of Army Staff (Army Commander) at the time of the June 4, 1979, mutiny/coup, was killed in action as he fought the mutineers/coupists that fateful morning.
Summary
A Cameroonian president sentenced to death in absentia for treason, who died about 40 years ago in exile in 1989 in Senegal, and whose remains will not be accepted by his country, does not deserve the honour of a street being named after him.
If the street name “Ahmadou Ahidjo” must stay for reasons the authorities owe Ghanaians education on, then the name must be corrected from the incorrect “Ahmadou Ahodjo.”
Again, Ghana abounds with patriots who have worked hard both at home and internationally, whose names deserve to be immortalised.
Has anything been named after our own Professor Allotey, internationally reputed for the “Allotey Formalism” in Physics?
How about our internationally recognised Professor Konotey-Ahulu of the Sickle Cell Research fame? Like Gen. Erskine, Gen. Obeng and Gen. Odartey-Wellington, they deserve their places in history.
For Ghanaians who argue strongly for “Traditional Ghanaian Hospitality” being our forte, please lead a practical crusade against galamsey/environmental degradation, indiscipline, RTAs and other negatives to show your love for God and country!
Leadership must initiate a deliberate attitudinal reorientation back to the positive mindset the Ghanaian had in our first 20 years of existence after independence! That way, Charles Amissah and many Ghanaians before and after him will not die needlessly!
Leadership, lead by example/integrity/humility! Fellow Ghanaians, wake up!
The writer is a former CEO, African Peace Support Trainers Association, Nairobi, Kenya; Council Chairman, Family Health University, Teshie, Accra. E-mail:
