Statue of Former Ghana President Akufo-Addo Destroyed, Sparking Mixed Reactions
According to BBC, a statue of former President Nana Akufo-Addo, which was unveiled in November last year, has been destroyed in Ghana’s Western Region.
Photos shared by local media on Monday showed the statue with its head cut off and lying on the ground, while the body was also badly damaged. The pedestal, which once held the statue, remains in place, but only in a ruined state.
The statue was put up to honor Akufo-Addo’s efforts in developing the region. However, its unveiling caused a backlash on social media, with some critics calling it “self-glorification” and questioning why the president would unveil his own statue.
BBC reports that last month, the statue had already been partially damaged when one leg was broken, but local authorities had promised to repair it.
Now, after its complete destruction, reactions from residents have been mixed. Some people were glad to see it gone, saying it didn’t benefit the community. One local resident told Citi FM, “It didn’t help us, so if it’s destroyed, it’s normal.”
Another person said there could have been a better, more respectful way to remove the statue, adding that this action might create more division between supporters of Akufo-Addo’s party and others. BBC also quoted another resident who expressed happiness over the statue’s destruction.
Criticism of the statue began even before its launch, as Ghana was facing severe economic problems. BBC highlighted that the country recently experienced its worst financial crisis in decades, leading to a $3 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Many questioned whether building the statue was a good use of public money during such tough times.
John Mahama, the newly elected president who defeated Akufo-Addo’s party in a landslide victory last month, had previously criticized the statue.
BBC noted that Mahama argued it should be up to the people to honor a former leader, especially given the economic hardship facing ordinary Ghanaians. He called the statue insensitive, saying it did not reflect the struggles many were going through.
The destruction of the statue highlights deep political divisions in Ghana, with some seeing it as a justified act of protest and others viewing it as a disrespectful attack on the former president’s legacy.
As BBC reported, the incident has raised further questions about how leaders should be remembered during challenging times.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyzv0zmgp2o