Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare, commonly referred to as Kwaku Azar, has professed doom and President Akufo-Addo for erecting a statue in his honour.
President Akufo-Addo has unveiled a statue of himself at the entrance of Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi.
The unveiling was part of his one-day “thank you” tour of the Western Region on Wednesday, November 6.
After the unveiling, President Akufo-Addo has received intense backlash from the Ghanaian populace, with residents of Effia-Nkwanta calling for the removal saying the President has done nothing in the constituency to deserve the statue.
Kwaku Azar has also chastised the president for this act, highlighting five (5) key reasons why statues should not be erected for sitting presidents.
In a Facebook post, he said, “GOGO suggests that statues should not be erected for sitting presidents (or other sitting public officers) on five grounds.
First, it can appear self-congratulatory or politically motivated, potentially leading to perceptions of vanity rather than genuine recognition of lasting achievements.
Second, statues should be reserved for figures whose contributions have stood the test of time. Erecting one for a current president (or public officer) risk prematurely celebrating achievements that history may judge differently.
Third, using public funds for such monuments can seem like a misallocation, especially when there may be more pressing issues needing attention. This can lead to public discontent if citizens feel resources are better spent elsewhere.
Fourth, a statue can symbolically elevate a leader above others, potentially biasing the public’s view before a fair assessment of their term can be made.
Finally, Ghanafuo historically punishes a President who gives himself or his appointees statues or other awards.”
