A hole has been discovered on the back of one leg of the statue of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, situated prominently in front of the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi-Takoradi, Western Region.
This incident has sparked renewed debate over the statue, which has been a topic of contention among some residents. Previously, certain individuals in Takoradi had expressed strong opposition to its presence and even threatened to remove it. While the current damage does not confirm whether these threats were acted upon, suspicions linger over whether the hole was the result of deliberate vandalism or simply a structural fault.
The statue, unveiled by President Akufo-Addo during a regional tour prior to the general elections, was erected to commemorate significant projects executed during his administration. These include the rehabilitation of the Effia-Nkwanta Hospital, the construction of the 3-tier Sinohydro interchange, and the redevelopment of the Takoradi Market Circle.
Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah, has defended the statue’s installation as a symbol of progress and a tribute to the government’s transformative initiatives in the Western Region. However, the recent damage raises questions about the statue’s durability and ongoing local resistance to its presence.
As of now, authorities have not determined the cause of the damage, leaving residents and stakeholders to speculate on whether this was an act of protest or an unfortunate defect.
