Outgoing Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo ignited controversy Wednesday after unveiling a statue of himself during a farewell tour of the country’s Western Region, drawing widespread criticism over perceived self-promotion months before leaving office.
The monument, erected outside Sekondi’s Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital, was presented as a tribute to the president’s development initiatives, according to Western Region Minister Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah. However, the installation immediately triggered backlash on social media platforms, with many Ghanaians condemning it as an act of self-glorification.
Opposition Member of Parliament Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah voiced public sentiment on X, formerly Twitter, stating, “The people of the Western Region deserve better than these self-serving displays.”
The unveiling came during what officials called a “thank-you tour” by the 80-year-old Akufo-Addo, who will step down in January after serving two terms. Throughout his tour, the president has claimed to have fulfilled 80% of his promises to Ghanaians, particularly highlighting his flagship policy of free secondary education as his “most significant legacy.”
The statue’s placement has become a flashpoint for broader criticism about incomplete development projects. Many citizens have taken to social media calling for its removal after the president leaves office, while others questioned the monument’s priority amid ongoing economic challenges.
“It would be admirable if the president had allowed posterity to recognise and appreciate his work,” wrote one X user in a widely shared post.
The monument has found some defenders, particularly among supporters who praise Akufo-Addo’s educational reforms. “He is very deserving of this exquisite monument. The greatest president I’ve ever had. You will be missed by Ghanaians,” posted one supporter, crediting the president as the “founder of Ghana’s free education system.”
The controversy unfolds against the backdrop of intense political campaigning for next month’s general election. During his regional tour, Akufo-Addo urged voters to support Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, promising continuity of current policies and projects.
Bawumia faces former President John Dramani Mahama of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in a contest where economic issues dominate the agenda. Ghana, Africa’s leading gold producer, continues to grapple with a high cost of living, making economic management a central campaign issue.
The Western Region, where the statue stands, represents one of 16 administrative regions in Ghana and has traditionally been a significant battleground in national elections.
