OUTGOING Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo has faced public backlash after unveiling a bronze statue of himself outside the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi, in the country’s Western Region. The statue, meant to honour his administration’s development work, has triggered widespread criticism on social media, where Ghanaians see it as premature self-praise rather than a fitting tribute.
Western Region Minister Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah defended the monument, saying it celebrates Akufo-Addo’s contributions to the region. However, many Ghanaians have reacted with scepticism, with opposition MP Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah calling the display ‘self-serving’ and suggesting it doesn’t align with local priorities. ‘The people of the Western Region deserve better than these self-serving displays,’ Kofi-Buah commented on X (formerly Twitter
The statue, unveiled during Akufo-Addo’s ‘thank-you tour’ before he steps down in January, has also attracted comments from citizens who argue that more pressing issues, such as healthcare infrastructure, are being sidelined. ‘It would be admirable if the president had allowed posterity to recognise and appreciate his work,’ noted one X user.
While critics have called for the statue’s removal after Akufo-Addo leaves office, some supporters view it as a deserved tribute. ‘He is very deserving of this exquisite monument. The greatest president I’ve ever had,’ one supporter posted, citing Akufo-Addo’s free secondary education policy as his most impactful legacy.
The president’s tour coincides with campaigning for his ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) ahead of December’s general election. Akufo-Addo urged voters to support Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP’s candidate, to continue their party’s policies. Bawumia faces a strong challenge from former President John Dramani Mahama of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), as the high cost of living remains a top election issue in Ghana.
Akufo-Addo’s supporters hope that his educational reforms will stand as a lasting legacy, but his critics argue that the president’s track record should speak for itself without the need for personal monuments.
