A meeting convened by the chiefs of Ahanta to express gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama for appointing Hon. Joseph Nelson as the Western Regional Minister took an unexpected turn, as it reignited controversy over a statue of former President Nana Akufo-Addo.
While the primary purpose of the gathering was to celebrate Nelson’s appointment, Nana Kwesi Agyeman IV, the chief of Lower Dixcove, seized the moment to clarify his stance on the controversial statue, which has been the subject of public debate since its unveiling.
The chief of Lower Dixcove, Nana Kwesi Agyeman IV, distanced himself from any involvement in the decision to erect a statue in honor of former President Akufo-Addo in the Western Region. He emphasized that he was unaware of the plan to unveil a statue until the event was already underway.
“I knew that we were going to say thank you. We were going to thank [Akufo Addo] for at least some of the projects that he has initiated. After all he was our president. But I didn’t know we were going to thank him by making a statue for him. For that one I didn’t know. I had no idea until I came to where the program was.’’
Chief of Lower Dixcove, Nana Kwesi Agyeman IV
He further stressed that he had neither participated in meetings nor contributed to discussions regarding the statue’s construction.
The statue of former President Akufo-Addo, which was erected during his presidency, has faced public criticism, with many questioning its funding and purpose. There have been conflicting reports regarding the financial contributors to the project, with some attributing it to Nana Kwesi Agyeman IV and other traditional leaders. However, the chief made it clear that he was not part of any such initiative.
The controversy surrounding the statue has overshadowed other pressing concerns in the Western Region, shifting public discourse away from governance and infrastructure issues. Despite this, the chief sought to bring the focus back to the reason for the gathering—the appreciation of President Mahama’s appointment of Hon. Joseph Nelson.
Celebrating the Appointment of Joseph Nelson
Nana Kwesi Agyeman IV expressed his community’s excitement about Joseph Nelson’s selection as Western Regional Minister. He highlighted;
“We are so happy with this appointment because we know he will be able to serve us. We know he is disciplined and very respectful. And looking at the issues of this country, especially those affecting the Western Region, we are hopeful that he will make a great impact. This is but the second time or so that an indigene from Ahanta has been selected to be the Regional Minister. And so, we are very proud and happy of this appointment.’’
Chief of Lower Dixcove, Nana Kwesi Agyeman IV
Nana Agyeman IV did not shy away from highlighting the western Regions challenges particularly the poor roads network condition of the community. He urged the government to pay attention to the situation adding that it is unacceptable that the region do not have proper roads.
Shifting Focus to Regional Development
The chief’s remarks underscored a broader concern—that national politics and symbolic gestures such as statues should not distract from the real developmental needs of the people.
This called for a renewed focus on addressing the fundamental challenges in the Western Region, such as roads, healthcare, and education.
The meeting, while intended to be an appreciation event, ultimately served as a platform for the chief to set the record straight on the Akufo-Addo statue controversy and to highlight the pressing developmental needs of the Western Region. The discussions made it clear that while symbolic gestures may have political significance, they do not address the everyday struggles of the people.
As the controversy over the statue lingers, the real question remains: Will the government heed the calls for infrastructural development in the Western Region?
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