The thirteenth president of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is facing intense heat from some quarters on the social media following the unveiling of his life-size statue at the entrance Effia Nkwanta regional hospital in the Western region.
The towering statue was unveiled at Sekondi in the Western Region to honor the Ghanaian President as a recognition for his administration’s contributions to region’s development.
The unveiling ceremony was led by Western Regional Minister Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, who highlighted several landmark projects initiated unde Akufo-Addo’s administration.
These include the ongoing rehabilitation of Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital, the construction of a 3-tier Sinohydro interchange, and the redevelopment of the Takoradi Market Circle — projects that have significantly enhanced the region’s infrastructure.
In light of these developmental achievements, the Western Region administration found it fit to honor President Akufo-Addo as he nears the end of his term.
The statue’s installation however sparked mixed reactions among residents, questioning the necessity of an active president statue while in office, ignoring more important things to contribute to the economy.
Akufo-Addo, who came to political power through resisting authority and championing people’s rights to protest, is now accused of suppressing them, sometimes violently, leading activists to call his tenure a “disguised dictatorship”.
Akufo-Addo has also been accused of defending ministers in his government who have faced allegations of egregious corruption.
Some of the comment against his statue on the social media read:
@baddestkhalil: “President Akuffo Addo knows that no one will ever think about this nor ever consider it. He has gone out his way to do it himself, and i promise you the same way it went up, it will surely come down. The resemblance is uncanny tho, kudos to the sculptor.”
@hughes_onair: “I am sure if he had the opportunity to canonise himself he would call himself Saint Akuffo Addo” –
@GeraldCrack: “A government hospital he didn’t build uno. Imagine mahama getting a statue at ridge or UGMC. We allowed another minister to name a government building after his mother. The Akuffo Addo and Bawumia administration is the worst thing to happen to Ghana.”
@JaySpar1: “Akuffo Addo mounted a billboard thanking himself for the nonexistence of the La general hospital. Vote wisely.”
@ellyserwaaa: “Akuffo Addo promised to renovate the Effia-Nkwanta Hospital but didn’t. Instead he has gone to place this statue in front of the hospital.”