Tuesday, January 14, 2025, marks exactly one week since the swearing-in of President John Dramani Mahama and Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang.

One ‘unfortunate’ incident that has been recurring since the inauguration is the destruction of statues erected during the government of the immediate past president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Since Mahama’s takeover, at least three statues on public properties have been vandalised, and there has been no statement by authorities on it.

Ghana’s laws indicate the deliberate destruction of property, either private or public, is considered an act of vandalism and crime.

Even though this recent vandalism, which appears to enjoy public support, constitutes a crime per the laws of the country, there has been no indication that the perpetrators of these acts would be punished.

Here are three instances where statues erected during the Akufo-Addo government have been vandalised:

EOCO boss’s statue:

The first Akufo-Addo government-inspired statue to go down was that of the Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah.

The statue was vandalised around 11:30 AM on January 7, 2025, when unidentified individuals entered the EOCO premises and destroyed the statue.

Despite the presence of two officers at the scene, they were reportedly unable to stop the vandals.

The statue, unveiled in October 2024, has been subjected to public controversies.

It was commissioned by EOCO staff to honour the then executive director, with the surrounding area named “Obatanpa Tiwaa Gardens” to honour her.



Prof Mills’ statue:



The next statue erected under the previous government that was touched was that of the late former President John Evans Atta Mills.

Former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Koku Anyidoho, took to social media to express his frustration over the vandalization of a statue of the late former President Prof John Evans Atta Mills at the former president’s resting place, the Asomdwee Park.

Visuals from the Asomdwee Park show the plaque of the statue, which named Koku Anyidoho as the person who assisted with its unveiling, removed.

The writings on the plaque, before it was destroyed, showed details of the late former president and the inscription, “Assisted by Samuel Koku Anyidoho.”

Although the plaque of the statue could be seen broken into pieces, the sculpture of the late Prof Mills was intact and still standing.

It is not clear who removed the plaque, but the Asomdwee Park is state property, intended to be the resting place of the country’s presidents who pass on.

Statue of Akufo-Addo:



The third statue that has gone down is that of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo himself.

The former president's statue at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi was completely destroyed by unknown individuals on Monday, January 13, 2025.

Before the destruction of the statue, several people had called for the relocation of the statue. Among them was Blay Nyameke Armah, the Member of Parliament for Sekondi in the Western Region of Ghana, who suggested that they seek permission from former President John Dramani Mahama to relocate Akufo-Addo’s statue to his hometown, Kyebi.

President Akufo-Addo faced significant criticisms after unveiling the statue on November 6, 2024.

A section of the public, including former President John Dramani Mahama, accused Akufo-Addo of self-glorification through the statue.

Mahama stated that it should not be the president’s decision to erect a statue of himself, but rather, people should do so after his tenure in recognition of his achievements.

Some residents of Sekondi expressed displeasure over the placement of the statue in their community, with some highlighting the poor condition of the very road where the statue was erected.

BAI//EK

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