“Nobody should ever put up a statue of themselves while still alive, let alone while still in office” – Former UK Ambassador to Ghana

Former UK Ambassador to Ghana, Jon Benjamin, has expressed his disapproval of the erection of a statue of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, emphasizing that individuals should refrain from commissioning statues of themselves during their lifetime or tenure in office.

His comments follow the recent vandalism of the Akufo-Addo statue, located in front of the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi. The statue, unveiled in November 2024 during the former President’s “Thank-You Tour” of the Western Region, faced public backlash, with residents questioning its appropriateness and relevance to the region’s development needs.

The statue, reportedly destroyed by alleged supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on January 13, 2025, has sparked mixed reactions in the Western Region. While some residents condemned the vandalism, others criticized the decision to erect the statue in the first place. The NDC has denied any involvement in or endorsement of the act.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on the same day, Jon Benjamin remarked, “Nobody should ever put up a statue of themselves while still alive, let alone while still in office.” His statement has reignited debates on the ethics of erecting monuments in honor of living figures.

The vandalized statue had previously undergone repairs in December 2024 after suffering damage just weeks after its unveiling. Despite its restoration, it remained a symbol of contention among locals, who questioned its significance against the backdrop of pressing developmental needs in the region.