Former President John Dramani Mahama sharply attacked his successor, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, over a statue he unveiled in the capital city of Accra. The comments that came from Mahama have been fraught with controversy as many have expressed their views on whether the gesture is appropriate.
Unveiled at Jubilee House, which houses the president's residence and office, the statue shows Akufo-Addo proudly standing, his leadership extolled on a plaque below. The act has attracted widespread public uproar as critics question its timing and importance amidst unabated economic challenges that face Ghana.
Ex-Ghana leader, 2012-2017, shot back: "Humility is a virtue that leaders should wear upon their sleeves." He emphasized that true leadership is about serving the interest of the people and not self-aggrandizement. "Let the people praise you, not the other way around," Mahama added during a public address. His comments mirror growing dissatisfaction with what many perceive as self-promotion by the sitting president.
Mahama's remarks have come when Ghana is fighting the battle of inflation, rising cost of living, and economic slowdown. His critics say at a time when priorities need to be focused on the resolutions of real issues in Ghana, the attention towards a statue as a personal honor has been misplaced. To many Ghanaians, the unveiling of the statue feels like an indulgence when better things can be done to make the country recover from its economic difficulties.
Unveiling statues of serving presidents is not new in Ghana, but the very personal decision to honor Akufo-Addo with this statue of prominence has just set off a political storm. While some supporters of the president say that the statue symbolizes his leadership, many others-mostly from the opposition-think it was an act of arrogance and misuse of public funds.
As the debate continues to rage on, Mahama's comments put a wider perspective on the nature of leadership in Ghana and whether self-promotion is part of the package in times of hardship.
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