The controversy surrounding President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s newly commissioned statue near the Effie Nkwanta Regional hospital in Sekondi Takoradi has sparked heated debates among residents.
Many are questioning the president’s decision to commission a statue of himself in an area where they feel he has made little impact.
The statue’s location at a newly created roundabout, which is still under construction, has added fuel to the fire.
Residents like Kofi Esson are demanding its removal, asking “what has he done for us?” while others, like Kwame Okyere, are more open-minded but wonder why the unveiling couldn’t wait until the construction is complete.
Critics argue that the president’s move is an attempt to ridicule the people, especially considering the Western Region’s significant infrastructure deficits.
Reactions on Social Media:
On Wednesday when the news broke, many residents, especially the youth took to social media to criticize the move.
Visuals of the statue were shared hundreds of times within a few hours with some of the comments accompanying it reading,
– “Not just this Statue dey annoy me ooo… almost all the streets in Sekondi Takoradi are named after his father, his family and himself???”
– “I got pissed off the moment I saw it… I blame the people of Sekondi-Takoradi”
Meanwhile, Western Regional Communications Officer of the NDC, Richard Kirk Mensah has vowed to send the statue to the President’s hometown, Kyebi, after the elections.
“I will lead the youth of Sekondi-Takoradi to relocate that statue to Kyebi in front of Akufo- Addo’s Family house,” he stated.
