Erecting Your Own Statue While Alive Is Inappropriate” – Jon Benjamin Slams Akufo-Addo

Jon Benjamin Criticizes Akufo-Addo for Erecting His Own Statue. Former UK Ambassador to Ghana, Jon Benjamin, has expressed his disapproval of a statue erected in honor of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, arguing that such self-glorification is inappropriate during one’s lifetime or tenure in office.

His criticism comes after the Akufo-Addo statue, which was unveiled in November 2024 as part of the former president’s “Thank-You Tour” in the Western Region, was vandalized on January 13, 2025. The statue, located in front of the Effia Nkwanta Hospital in Sekondi, sparked controversy from the outset, with some residents questioning Akufo-Addo’s contributions to the region.

Jon Benjamin took to Twitter to share his stance, writing, “Nobody should ever put up a statue of themselves while still alive, let alone while still in office.”

The vandalism, allegedly carried out by supporters of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has sparked mixed reactions. While some condemned the act as disrespectful, others viewed it as a sign of public frustration with the former president.

The NDC has distanced itself from the incident, with party representatives denying any involvement and calling for restraint in resolving political disagreements.

Jon Benjamin’s remarks have since fueled a larger debate on the appropriateness of self-honoring acts, especially among political figures.

Source: Opera.com