Police investigate damage caused to Akufo-Addo’s statue

The Ghana Police Service has commenced an investigation into the damage caused to the statue of His Excellency, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, located at the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital Roundabout in Sekondi, Western Region.

The Police say their preliminary investigations have revealed that the statue’s left leg has been damaged, and its plaque removed.

“efforts are underway to get the perpetrators arrested to face justice,” a statement said.

𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐕𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐆𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐔𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐀 𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐎 𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐊𝐖𝐀 𝐀𝐊𝐔𝐅𝐎-𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐎 𝐀𝐓 𝐄𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐀 𝐍𝐊𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐀 𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 AT 𝐒𝐄𝐊𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐈 pic.twitter.com/X26LLAAf3l

— Ghana Police Service (@GhPoliceService) December 16, 2024

Residents of Sekondi-Takoradi were met with surprising news on Monday, December 16, as the statue of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, unveiled by the President himself, was found vandalized.

The statue, located near the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital, has been a subject of public debate since its unveiling.

Critics have questioned its relevance, particularly in light of unfulfilled government promises and stalled projects within the region.

Richard Kirk Mensah, the Western Regional Communications Officer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has been an outspoken critic of the statue, suggesting it would be better placed in the President’s hometown of Kyebi.

The circumstances surrounding the vandalism remain unclear. Vendors in the area reported that the statue appeared intact as of Friday evening (December 13), only to be found damaged by Monday morning (December 16).

Given the statue’s placement in a relatively isolated area with no nearby residential buildings, residents are puzzled about how the incident occurred unnoticed.

While some locals initially viewed the statue positively, opinions shifted when residents were asked to share their perspectives. Nana Adwoa Banko, a roasted plantain vendor near the Effia Nkwanta roundabout, expressed disappointment over the vandalism. “Someone actually drew my attention to the statue’s vandalism,” she noted. “I don’t think it’s right. They should have at least waited until after the handing over.”