By Charles Takyi-Boadu
Posted: The Chronicle Tuesday, January 20, 2009.
The President has finally decided to use the seat of government, the Osu Castle, as his temporary place of abode. This is to avoid any inconveniences that his motorcade may be creating on the traffic-prone Spintex road, where he plies day-in-and-out from his private residence at the Regimanuel Estates, to the Castle to conduct government business, since he took office barely two weeks ago. 
A statement issued by the Office of the President, and signed by Koku Anyidoho, Head of the Communications Directorate, noted, “His Excellency President John Atta Mills has, since Tuesday, January 13, 2009, moved into the residential facility at the seat of Government.”
For now, the President lives alone at the Castle without the company of his family.
Sources close to the Castle told The Chronicle that he only intends to go to his private residence as and when the need arises, especially on weekends when there is less traffic jam on the Spintex road.
In effect, the President works and lives at the age-old Castle to transact business.
Originally known as the Christianborg Castle, the Osu Castle dates back to the 16th Century, and has changed hands many times.
Sources close to President said for the eight years that he served as President of the Republic, President John Agyekum Kufuor lived in his private residence near the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange, at the Airport residential area, from where he commuted to the Castle on a daily basis.
In the year 2005, there was huge debate over whether or not the Osu Castle should be replaced as the seat of government.
At the time, then President Kufuor argued that his government would not sit at the castle, due to its previous association with slavery, and also because its facilities were inadequate.
Members of the then opposition National Democratic Congress, and their Members of Parliament (MPs), however, argued that the $50 million that a new presidential palace would cost would be better spent elsewhere.
Osu Castle remains the seat of government in Ghana, employing 2,100 workers. The most important functions are carried out in the castle itself, but other buildings are also used.
Many international dignitaries have visited the castle, including U.S. Presidents Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton, and former German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroder.
The Castle began to serve as the seat of government under British colonial rule, and continues to perform that function today.
The present castle is made up of various extensions to the original, and is thus in an unorthodox shape.
It has many facilities for the use of employees, including a clinic, cafe, shopping centre, and post office. It also still accommodates a permanent garrison.
The extensive gardens feature a wide variety of plants, both local and imported, and employ 30 people. They are used for the President's outdoor receptions and parties.
The Osu Castle is not open to the public, and photography of it is restricted. In the year 2007, opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), stormed out of a parliamentary debate on whether to take out a $50m loan to build a new presidential palace.
However, their colleague MPs from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), voted unanimously in favour of taking the loan from India.
They argued that the President should not be based in Osu Castle, where slaves used to be kept.
The old Flagstaff House, used by Ghana's first President as a residence, was thus renovated into a museum, while the grounds on which it stands, has been used to build an ultra modern office complex and residence, for the President and Vice-President of Ghana, as well as their staff.
Though over 95% of work at the site has been completed, it is yet to be occupied, and used by the President and his Vice, for the purposes for which it was built.
The area was first occupied in 1550 by the Portuguese, though in the 17th Century Portuguese influence diminished.
The area came under control of the Swedes in the 1650s, led by the Dutch trader Henry Caerlof. In 1652 he was given permission to build a small fortified lodge by the King of Accra, with whom he had previously done business.
In 1660 control passed to the Netherlands, but was soon lost to Denmark. In 1657 Caerlof again traveled to Africa, this time representing Denmark. He aimed to conquer the forts he had previously established, which he found easy at Osu.
In its early life, the castle was primarily used in the gold and ivory trade, but under Danish control, it increasingly dealt with slaves.
In 1957, when Ghana became independent, with Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State, the fort became Government House, the residence of the Governor-General.
When Ghana became a Republic in 1960, it became the residence of Ghana's first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
A statement issued by the Office of the President, and signed by Koku Anyidoho, Head of the Communications Directorate, noted, “His Excellency President John Atta Mills has, since Tuesday, January 13, 2009, moved into the residential facility at the seat of Government.”
For now, the President lives alone at the Castle without the company of his family.
Sources close to the Castle told The Chronicle that he only intends to go to his private residence as and when the need arises, especially on weekends when there is less traffic jam on the Spintex road.
In effect, the President works and lives at the age-old Castle to transact business.
Originally known as the Christianborg Castle, the Osu Castle dates back to the 16th Century, and has changed hands many times.
Sources close to President said for the eight years that he served as President of the Republic, President John Agyekum Kufuor lived in his private residence near the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange, at the Airport residential area, from where he commuted to the Castle on a daily basis.
In the year 2005, there was huge debate over whether or not the Osu Castle should be replaced as the seat of government.
At the time, then President Kufuor argued that his government would not sit at the castle, due to its previous association with slavery, and also because its facilities were inadequate.
Members of the then opposition National Democratic Congress, and their Members of Parliament (MPs), however, argued that the $50 million that a new presidential palace would cost would be better spent elsewhere.
Osu Castle remains the seat of government in Ghana, employing 2,100 workers. The most important functions are carried out in the castle itself, but other buildings are also used.
Many international dignitaries have visited the castle, including U.S. Presidents Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton, and former German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroder.
The Castle began to serve as the seat of government under British colonial rule, and continues to perform that function today.
The present castle is made up of various extensions to the original, and is thus in an unorthodox shape.
It has many facilities for the use of employees, including a clinic, cafe, shopping centre, and post office. It also still accommodates a permanent garrison.
The extensive gardens feature a wide variety of plants, both local and imported, and employ 30 people. They are used for the President's outdoor receptions and parties.
The Osu Castle is not open to the public, and photography of it is restricted. In the year 2007, opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), stormed out of a parliamentary debate on whether to take out a $50m loan to build a new presidential palace.
However, their colleague MPs from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), voted unanimously in favour of taking the loan from India.
They argued that the President should not be based in Osu Castle, where slaves used to be kept.
The old Flagstaff House, used by Ghana's first President as a residence, was thus renovated into a museum, while the grounds on which it stands, has been used to build an ultra modern office complex and residence, for the President and Vice-President of Ghana, as well as their staff.
Though over 95% of work at the site has been completed, it is yet to be occupied, and used by the President and his Vice, for the purposes for which it was built.
The area was first occupied in 1550 by the Portuguese, though in the 17th Century Portuguese influence diminished.
The area came under control of the Swedes in the 1650s, led by the Dutch trader Henry Caerlof. In 1652 he was given permission to build a small fortified lodge by the King of Accra, with whom he had previously done business.
In 1660 control passed to the Netherlands, but was soon lost to Denmark. In 1657 Caerlof again traveled to Africa, this time representing Denmark. He aimed to conquer the forts he had previously established, which he found easy at Osu.
In its early life, the castle was primarily used in the gold and ivory trade, but under Danish control, it increasingly dealt with slaves.
In 1957, when Ghana became independent, with Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State, the fort became Government House, the residence of the Governor-General.
When Ghana became a Republic in 1960, it became the residence of Ghana's first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
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