Public outrage erupted when the President unveiled the statue during a quick "thank you" tour of the Western Region.

Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah, the Western Regional Minister, defended the statue, saying it honors President Akufo-Addo's contributions to the region through his numerous projects. He mentioned projects including the renovation of Takoradi Market Circle, the building of a three-tier Sinohydro interchange, and the restoration of Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital. But even after the statue was unveiled, a number of these projects are still unfinished.

Speaking positively of his government's accomplishments, President Akufo-Addo asserted that roughly 80% of his campaign pledges had been kept. Additionally, he presented Free Senior High School (SHS) as Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's legacy and urged Ghanaians to vote for him in the upcoming elections.

“While I do not claim to have fully satisfied all promises, a significant portion – roughly 80% – of our manifesto pledges have been fulfilled, with notable advancements in education, healthcare, infrastructure development, industrial reform, agriculture, and cocoa production,” he said. “Previously, financial difficulties hindered approximately 100,000 junior high graduates from advancing to senior high school annually, despite meeting academic requirements. Over the past decade, approximately 1,000,000 students faced obstacles in advancing their educational journey, but since the implementation of Free SHS in 2017, our educational system has witnessed remarkable enhancements to date.”



Despite these claims, many Ghanaians see the statue as an act of "undeserved self-aggrandisement," with some even calling for its removal. Social media is filled with calls for government accountability and outrage over the President's move, reflecting the nation’s mixed sentiments about the administration’s accomplishments and priorities.