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Ghana unveils presidential palace | Ghana unveils presidential palace |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Ghana has inaugurated a presidential palace costing tens of millions of dollars in the capital, Accra. | Ghana has inaugurated a presidential palace costing tens of millions of dollars in the capital, Accra. |
The Golden Jubilee House, unveiled weeks before presidential elections, will house the president's offices and serve as a residence. | The Golden Jubilee House, unveiled weeks before presidential elections, will house the president's offices and serve as a residence. |
The main opposition party, the NDC, has raised objections to the cost of the luxurious palace. | The main opposition party, the NDC, has raised objections to the cost of the luxurious palace. |
But its leader, John Atta-Mills, has said he will not boycott the building if elected as president in December. | But its leader, John Atta-Mills, has said he will not boycott the building if elected as president in December. |
The original budget was $30m (£19m), financed by a loan from the Indian government. | The original budget was $30m (£19m), financed by a loan from the Indian government. |
The palace was built by an Indian contractor using Ghanaian sub-contractors. | The palace was built by an Indian contractor using Ghanaian sub-contractors. |
'Chief's house' | 'Chief's house' |
The final cost has not yet been confirmed, but it is expected to be $45-50m, the BBC's David Amanor reports from Accra. | The final cost has not yet been confirmed, but it is expected to be $45-50m, the BBC's David Amanor reports from Accra. |
The main office complex resembles a traditional seat, important in Ghana's folklore, and the Kwame Nkrumah mausoleum built for the country's first president and representing a tree cut off in its prime. | |
The opposition has said the government has got its priorities wrong at a time when Ghana should be investing in infrastructure, health and education. | The opposition has said the government has got its priorities wrong at a time when Ghana should be investing in infrastructure, health and education. |
But at a ceremony attended by hundreds of guests and dignitaries on Monday, President John Kufuor said people look to the seat of government for "national cohesion, aspirations, and inspiration". | But at a ceremony attended by hundreds of guests and dignitaries on Monday, President John Kufuor said people look to the seat of government for "national cohesion, aspirations, and inspiration". |
"Even in a hamlet everybody knows the chief's house, which is the first port of call for all visitors," he said. | "Even in a hamlet everybody knows the chief's house, which is the first port of call for all visitors," he said. |
The information minister has said Ghanaians should not worry about the cost, but rather think of the value the new palace brings. | The information minister has said Ghanaians should not worry about the cost, but rather think of the value the new palace brings. |
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