In a recent interview with a Takoradi-based radio station, Nana Akwasi Agyeman IV, the Paramount Chief of Lower Dixcove, strongly denied claims that the chiefs of the Western Region contributed to the construction of the controversial statue of former President Nana Akufo-Addo.
The statue, which was unveiled during Akufo-Addo’s thank-you tour in November 2024, has been at the center of public debate, particularly after the former Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah, suggested that the chiefs had donated to its creation.
“I promised not to comment on the statue issue because of the widespread insults we chiefs have suffered,” Nana Agyeman began.
He went on to clarify that no chief in the Western Region was involved in funding the statue’s construction.
“It is never true. No chief contributed a pesewa towards its construction. If any chief contributed towards it, I’m yet to know,” he asserted.
The Paramount Chief further explained that there had been no formal discussion among the chiefs regarding the statue.
“The chiefs never met as the House of Chiefs to discuss donating a statue to honour the then-President Nana Akufo-Addo,” he said, emphasizing that he attends almost every House of Chiefs meeting and would have been aware if such an issue had been discussed.
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Nana Agyeman explained the sequence of events leading up to the unveiling of the statue, revealing that he and other chiefs were initially invited to attend the former President’s thank-you tour at the GNAT Hall.
It was at this event that he was informed about the 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.”
Despite his initial reluctance, Nana Agyeman chose not to make a scene and went ahead with the unveiling. “Honestly, I initially didn’t want to do it, but I was worried about creating a scene, so I kept quiet,” he admitted.
During the unveiling, he was asked to speak in honour of the President, to which he responded by thanking the former President for his visit when Nana Agyeman had been attacked in 2019.
However, the Chief was careful to make it clear that his gratitude was personal and not on behalf of the Western Region chiefs. “I thanked him on my behalf and not on behalf of the chiefs of the Western Region,” he clarified.
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