Oko Vanderpuye should also change his name to “Akwasi Mensah”-Kofi Jumah

The Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Asokwa in the Ashanti Region, Maxwell Kofi Jumah says the Mayor of Accra, Dr. Alfred Oko Vanderpuye should also change his name to ‘Akwasi Mensah’ if he is capable of renaming the national hockey stadium without consulting the presidency.

The hockey stadium, which was known as the “Theodosia Okoh Hockey Stadium” was Wednesday changed to ‘John Evans Atta Mills Hockey Stadium’ by the members of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly led by the mayor of Accra, Alfred Oko Vanderpuye.

Despite hue and cry from the general public, Mr Oko Vandepuye vehemently defended the decision.

91-year-old Theodosia Okoh, who among other things is a former national hockey star, a long-serving chairman of the Ghana Hockey Association and single handedly spear-headed the construction of the hockey pitch, also designed Ghana’s official flag.

After the decision of the Mayor, the Office of the President Thursday directed the Accra Metropolitan Assembly to halt any process to rename the National Hockey Stadium after the late Prof. Atta Mills and also summoned the AMA boss to answer questions about the decision.

But speaking on Friday on Adom FM’s ‘Dwaso Nsem’ Morning show Mr Kofi Jumah, who is also a former deputy minister of Local Government and Rural Development said Mayor Oko Vanderpuye should also change his name to ‘Akwasi Mensah’ if he believes he has the right to change any name.

After the presidency’s directive, a grateful Theodosia Okoh has declared her intention to kiss the president’s feet in appreciation of his order to halt attempts by the AMA boss to rename the Theodosia Okoh Hockey Stadium after the late president Atta Mills.

He noted that Section 10 of the Local Government Act, 1993 (Act 462) sub section 5 makes it clear that Assemblies should follow the direction and guidance of the President.

Thus, the Mayor of Accra cannot rename any facility that belongs to the National Sports Authority without consultation and approval. Rather, Dr. Vanderpuye should have proposed the renaming of the facility to the appropriate agencies and statutory bodies.

Asked if the president should sack Dr. Vanderpuye, the former Mayor of Kumasi urged the President to forgive him and give him another opportunity to make amends.