Ghana’s outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo is facing backlash on social media after unveiling a statue of himself during a tour of the Western Region.
This monument, located outside Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi, was reportedly created to honor the development projects initiated under his leadership, according to the region’s minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah.
However, many Ghanaians have criticized the statue as “self-glorification.” Opposition MP Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah echoed this sentiment on social media, suggesting the region deserves better than “self-serving displays.”
President Akufo-Addo, who is set to leave office in January after two terms, has highlighted that he fulfilled 80% of his promises to Ghanaians. His current tour has been framed as a “thank-you tour,” with Darko-Mensah emphasizing the president’s various achievements in the region.
Nonetheless, some Ghanaians are questioning the timing and purpose of the statue, especially since several key projects remain unfinished. An X user remarked that it would have been more fitting for the president to let future generations recognize his contributions organically.
The statue’s photos, which have gone viral, have sparked calls from some citizens to remove it after Akufo-Addo leaves office. Yet, there is some support for the monument, with fans arguing it acknowledges his positive contributions, such as introducing Ghana’s free secondary education system, which he considers his “most significant legacy.”
During the tour, Akufo-Addo also urged Western Region residents to support his vice president, Mahamudu Bawumia, in the upcoming election. Bawumia, representing the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), faces a strong challenge from former President John Dramani Mahama of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). With the cost of living a prominent election issue, the upcoming election is expected to be competitive in this key gold-producing nation.
