Nana Akufo-Addo Receives Global Citizen Award From Europeans Whilst Ghanaians Label Him A Dictator In Viral Hashtag #AkufoAddoIsATyrant

While President Nana Akufo-Addo was being celebrated internationally for his leadership, Ghanaians back home took to social media with the viral hashtag #AkufoAddoIsATyrant, accusing him of authoritarianism and complicity in the illegal mining crisis known as “galamsey.” which is poisoning the rivers and causing deformation on new born babies.

The President received the Atlantic Council Global Citizen Award in New York on September 23, 2024, alongside other global leaders, including the Greek and Italian Prime Ministers. In his acceptance speech, Akufo-Addo claimed his governance was built on principles of unity, democracy, and global responsibility.

However, many Ghanaians feel far removed from these ideals. Protesters in Ghana have been met with brutal crackdowns, arrests, and violence under Akufo-Addo’s leadership. Young girls from as young as 10 years old were arrested, to women as old as 62. Others were viscously manhandled as seen in the videos below.