Nobody should erect a statue of themselves while alive

British diplomat Jon Benjamin, has criticised the erection of a statue of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo,

British diplomat Jon Benjamin, has criticised the erection of a statue of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, cautioning against such actions during one’s lifetime or tenure in office.

His remarks follow the vandalism of the Akufo-Addo statue by alleged supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on January 13, 2025.

Akufo-Addo had unveiled the statue in front of Effia Nkwanta Hospital in Sekondi during his “Thank-You Tour” of the Western Region in November 2024. The unveiling drew significant criticism from residents who questioned the former President’s contributions to the region.

The recent destruction of the statue has sparked varied reactions in the Western Region. While some residents have condemned the act, the NDC has strongly denied any involvement or endorsement of the vandalism.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on January 13, the former UK Ambassador to Ghana remarked, “Nobody should ever put up a statue of themselves while still alive, let alone while still in office.”