Outrage as 80-Year-Old Ghanian President unveils statue of himself

The unveiled statue of the 80-year-old Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo, has sparked an outrage among citizens of the country.

The President had unveiled the statue of himself during a tour of the country’s Western Region.

The statue, which stands in front of the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi, is meant to honour the president’s development initiatives, according to Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the region’s minister.

He unveiled the statue during a visit dubbed a “thank-you tour” on Wednesday, which also coincided with the promotion of key projects initiated under his leadership.

After unveiling the statue, many Ghanaians took to social media to mock the monument, calling it an act of “self-glorification.”

Opposition MP Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah in a post on X said, “President Akufo-Addo’s unveiling of a statue of himself at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital raises serious questions about his priorities and commitment to the people of the Western Region.

“This extravagant display of self-aggrandizement comes at a time when the region has been largely neglected, with pressing needs and concerns left unaddressed.

“The Akufo-Addo-Bawumia-NPP government continues to take the Western Region for granted. This grandiose gesture is a misplaced priority.

“The people of the Western Region deserve better than these self-serving displays.”

Akufo-Addo, who is set to step down in January 2025 after serving two terms, has claimed that he had fulfilled 80% of his campaign promises, a claim many Ghanaians have countered.

Despite the president’s praise of his administration’s achievements, many Ghanaians are questioning the significance of the President’s statue, especially as several major projects initiated by his administration remain uncompleted.

Another X user was quoted as saying, “It would have been better if the president had let history recognize his work, rather than celebrating himself now.”

Some Ghanaians have called for the statue to be removed after Akufo-Addo leaves office, with photos of the monument going viral.

During his tour, the President reportedly emphasized his policy to abolish secondary school fees, which he touts as one of his administration’s biggest achievements.

His visit to the Western Region also ties into the campaign efforts of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), as the country prepares for next month’s general election.

Despite the outrage against the unveiling of his statue, Akufo-Addo urged voters in the region to support his vice president, Mahamudu Bawumia, who will be the NPP’s candidate in the upcoming election.

He promised that a vote for Bawumia will ensure the continuation of his policies and development projects.

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