A newly installed but fully covered monument at the reconstructed Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital roundabout in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis has reignited public debate.
Many residents are questioning whether city authorities have learnt from the controversy surrounding the monument erected at the same location less than two years ago or still displaying open “intransigence.”
Motorists and residents on Monday woke up to find a large monument mounted on a pedestal at the centre of the newly completed roundabout. The structure has been completely wrapped, concealing its identity, thus fueling widespread speculation over what is beneath the plastic covering.
The development immediately drew comparisons with the statue of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo unveiled at the same location in November 2024.
That installation became one of the most controversial pieces of public art in recent memory, attracting criticism over its timing, location and symbolism.
It was first vandalised in December 2024, repaired shortly afterwards and eventually demolished by unknown persons in January 2025. Despite police investigations, no arrests were publicly announced.
Although authorities have remained silent on the latest installation, observations by ConnectNews suggest the concealed monument may depict a healthcare scene.
A closer inspection reveals what appears to be the frame of a hospital bed alongside the outline of human legs beneath the protective covering.
The observation aligns with an earlier discovery by ConnectNews in 2025, when a clay sculpture portraying a patient lying on a hospital bed while receiving care from a health worker was found at the Centre for National Culture.
At the time, officials at the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital denied knowledge of the artwork. Subsequent inquiries, however, suggested it had been commissioned for the hospital.
For many residents, a monument celebrating healthcare workers and the hospital’s contribution to the region would be more appropriate than another politically associated installation.
Adjoa Bonko, who has been roasting plantain near the roundabout for more than a decade, believes the site should reflect the hospital’s identity.
“We all remember what happened when the statue of Nana Addo was erected here. I hope we do not witness that again. I have heard people say the new monument is connected to the hospital. If that is true, then I welcome it because Effia Nkwanta deserves recognition for the sacrifices made by its health workers. Anything unrelated to the hospital will only create unnecessary controversy.”
A Taxi driver, Emmanuel Quansah, shared a similar view, saying the aesthetics of the newly reconstructed roundabout should take precedence over politics.
“After what happened the last time, I don’t think the authorities will repeat the same mistake. Personally, I only want something that beautifies the area and complements the hospital. It shouldn’t become another political monument.”
Officials of the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital declined to comment when contacted by ConnectNews, leaving unanswered questions over the identity of the monument, who commissioned it, and when it is expected to be unveiled.
Eric Yaw Adjei
