Ghana’s outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo is facing a wave of criticism on social media after unveiling a statue of himself during a visit to the Western Region.
The statue, positioned outside Sekondi’s Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital, was installed to honor Akufo-Addo’s contributions to the region’s development, according to Western Region Minister Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah. However, many Ghanaians view the monument as “self-glorifying,” sparking backlash and calls for its removal after Akufo-Addo steps down in January.
Opposition MP Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah commented, “The people of the Western Region deserve better than these self-serving displays.” Many have echoed this sentiment, criticizing the monument while noting incomplete infrastructure projects across the region.
Nonetheless, some supporters praised the statue, celebrating Akufo-Addo’s impact, especially his free secondary education policy, which the president has touted as his “most significant legacy.”
Akufo-Addo’s visit, part of a “thank-you tour,” has also added momentum to the ruling New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) election campaign. During the tour, he urged residents to support his deputy, Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, in the upcoming election. Bawumia, the NPP candidate, is set to face opposition leader and former President John Dramani Mahama.
Rising living costs remain a critical issue for voters in Ghana, Africa’s leading gold producer, as the election nears.
