By : Lloyd Mahachi 

A statue of Ghana’s immediate former President, Nana Akufo-Addo, has been destroyed.

 

The statue was unveiled in November in the Western Region, and was meant to honor Akufo-Addo’s development initiatives.

 

However, it faced heavy criticism since its installation, with many describing it as “self-glorification”.

 

The unveiling of the statue had sparked a social media backlash, with many mocking the idea of Akufo-Addo unveiling his own likeness.

 

The statue’s launch was also criticized for being insensitive, given the economic hardships faced by the people of Ghana.

 

Ghana has been experiencing its worst economic crisis in a generation and received a $3bn bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last year.

 

On Monday, local media shared images showing the statue in a ruined state, with its severed head lying on the ground.

 

The torso also appears to have been destroyed, and only a damaged pedestal remains in place.

 

The statue was made of a mixture of metal, wire mesh, clay, fibre glass, and resin, according to the sculptor Justice Gaisie.

 

Akufo-Addo stepped down as president last week after serving two terms in power.

 

His party’s candidate to replace him was heavily defeated in December’s presidential election.

 

The statue had already been partially vandalized last month, with one leg being damaged.

 

Local residents had been calling for the sculpture to be removed, but the local authorities had pledged to repair it instead.

 

The destruction of the statue has elicited mixed reactions from locals.

 

Some have condemned the act, while others believe it was a necessary measure.

 

One resident told local Citi FM outlet that the statue was “of no benefit” to the people, so its destruction was “normal”.

 

Another resident expressed sadness over the destruction, stating that there could have been a better way to deal with it.

 

President John Mahama, who won the recent presidential election, has criticized the erection of the statue in the past.

 

He described it as insensitive, given the economic hardships faced by the people of Ghana.

 

Mahama believes that it is up to the people to honor the former president for his achievements, rather than the government erecting a statue in his likeness.

 

Editor : Josephine Mahachi