Akwaaba vs. Oobakɛ: Why Asantes Honestly Don’t Care – Ajo Writes

Why should Kotoka International Airport in Accra, the capital of the Ga people, greet visitors with the Akan word “Akwaaba” instead of the Ga word “Oobakɛ”?

For some, this is a battle of cultural recognition, a demand that the capital city’s indigenous language take precedence.

For others, it is about national identity and unity.

But as an Asante, let me be clear—we honestly don’t care.

Akwaaba Is Not a Threat

The word “Akwaaba” has long transcended its Akan roots to become a national symbol of hospitality. It is recognized across Ghana and beyond, just as kente has become an international representation of Ghanaian identity.

Seeing “Akwaaba” at the airport is not an attempt to erase Ga culture—it is simply the use of a word that most Ghanaians and foreigners alike instantly recognize.

The Real Issue Is Bigger Than Words

Let’s be honest: no traveller lands in Ghana and judges our unity by which word greets them at the airport. They care about how smoothly they get through immigration, how safe they feel, and how beautiful their experience will be.

Whether the sign says “Akwaaba,” “Oobakɛ,” or “Woezor,” Ghana’s hospitality will always be measured by our actions, not by a single word on a billboard.

Asante Pride Does Not Depend on Airport Signs

For Asantes, cultural pride does not need validation from an airport wall. Our heritage is written in the Golden Stool, Akwasidae, Awukudae, adinkra symbols, kente, and centuries of history that no signage can erase.

If others feel sidelined by a word, they have every right to lobby for recognition. But our sense of identity is too deeply rooted to be shaken by such debates.

A Case for Inclusion, Not Insecurity

Instead of fighting over which word takes the spotlight, Ghana should be showcasing all its languages and cultures.

A multilingual welcome board would reflect the nation’s diversity more than replacing one word with another. The real solution is inclusivity, not insecurity.

Why We Don’t Care

At the end of the day, “Akwaaba” is just a word. It does not diminish the Ga heritage, and it certainly does not inflate Asante pride.

We are comfortable in our own skin, confident in our culture, and unbothered by whether a sign at the airport carries Akan, Ga, Ewe, or Dagbani. Asantes don’t measure identity through signs—we live it daily.

So if the sign says “Akwaaba,” fine. If tomorrow it changes to “Oobakɛ,” also fine. For us, Asante pride is not on trial at Kotoka International Airport. It is too big, too historic, and too unshakable to be dragged into a debate about a word on a wall.

Story by Adwoa S. Danso