W/R: “Akufo-Addo’s statue was not funded by the chiefs, we had no idea” -Lower Dixcove Chief reveals
The Paramount Chief of Lower Dixcove, Nana Akwasi Agyeman IX, has dismissed claims by former Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah, that the chiefs of the Western Region funded the controversial Akufo-Addo statue erected in front of the Effia-Nkwanta Hospital in Sekondi.
The statue, which was unveiled during former President Nana Akufo-Addo’s thank-you tour in November 2024, sparked widespread public criticism. Speaking on a Takoradi-based radio station, Nana Akwasi Agyeman IX revealed that, he and other chiefs were unaware of the statue’s existence until its unveiling.
“Frankly, I vowed not to speak about this issue due to the insults directed at us chiefs. But I can confidently say that the statue was not funded by the chiefs of the Western Region. No chief contributed even a pesewa toward its construction. If any chief did, I am unaware of it. Moreover, the idea was never discussed at any House of Chiefs meeting,” he stated.
Nana Agyeman further recounted how he was allegedly misled into participating in the event by Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah. He explained that he and other chiefs had only been invited to attend a thank-you event for the former president at the GNAT Hall. However, he was later informed that they would be presenting a gift to the president at Effia-Nkwanta Hospital.
“To my surprise, upon arrival at Effia-Nkwanta, I discovered the so-called gift was a statue. I had no prior knowledge of this. We were about seven Paramount Chiefs present, and I was informed on the spot that I would assist in unveiling the statue. I initially didn’t want to be part of it but decided to avoid creating a scene,” Nana Agyeman said.
The Lower Dixcove Paramount Chief clarified that his remarks during the unveiling were made in a personal capacity, reflecting on the former president’s visit to him in 2019 during his recovery from an attack, and not on behalf of the Western Region chiefs.
The Akufo-Addo statue, which had been a source of public dissatisfaction due to perceptions of the former president’s limited contributions to the region’s development, was vandalized by unknown individuals on January 13, 2025.
