We had no idea about Akufo-Addo’s statue until unveiling – WR Chiefs expose Okyere Darko

Read Time: 3 minutes

The Paramount Chief of Lower Dixcove, Nana Akwasi Agyeman IV, has refuted claims by the former Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah, that the chiefs of the Western Region donated the controversial Akufo-Addo statue mounted in front of the Effia-Nkwanta Hospital in Sekondi.

The statue was unveiled during the former President’s thank-you tour of the region in November 2024.

Speaking to a Takoradi-based radio station, Nana Akwasi Agyeman, who was present during the unveiling, clarified that he was unaware of the statue’s existence and was ambushed by Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah to participate in the event.

“Frankly, I promised not to comment on the statue issue because of the widespread insults we chiefs have suffered. I, Nana Akwasi Agyeman, can confirm that the statue was not done by the chiefs of the Western Region.

“It is never true. No chief contributed a pesewa towards its construction. If any chief contributed towards it, I’m yet to know. The second fact is that the chiefs never met as the House of Chiefs to discuss donating a statue to honour the then-President Nana Akufo-Addo. I’m someone who attends almost every House of Chiefs meeting, and so I would have known, but it was never discussed,” he stated.

Nana Akwasi Agyeman further explained how Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah caught him off guard and involved him in the unveiling of the statue.

“We only received an invitation to attend the former President’s thank-you tour, and so we met him at the GNAT Hall. It was there that Okyere Darko Mensah sent someone to inform me that he would like us to join them to present a gift of appreciation to the president, and so we would all go to Effia-Nkwanta Hospital.

“It was upon arriving there that I got to know it was a statue. I didn’t even know it was a statue. I was not the only Paramount Chief who went there; in fact, we were about seven. Again, it was there that I was told I would help the President unveil the statue. They gave me a chair close to the former President to sit on.”

“Honestly, I initially didn’t want to do it, but I was worried about creating a scene, so I kept quiet. We went ahead to unveil it and were asked to say something in honour of the President. I remembered the President paid me a visit at the hospital when I was attacked in 2019, so I thanked him on my behalf and not on behalf of the chiefs of the Western Region,” he explained.

The controversial statue of former President Akufo-Addo was destroyed by unknown individuals on Monday, January 13, 2025, following public outcry over what many saw as an insult to the plight of the Western Region, citing his perceived minimal contribution to the region’s development.