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.

Dear @UN , Ghanaians lack environmental rights: right to potable drinking water, clean air, and uncontaminated soils for crop growth.
Ghana’s water policy is just another of those paper documents, and citizens are brutalized for seeking justice.#EndGalamseyNow #FreetheCitizens pic.twitter.com/4E8f0QJ18S

— Aba Appiatewaa (@appiatewaa) September 24, 2024

How do you arrest a 63year old woman and a 10year old child for protesting against an act deteriorating our water bodies as galamsey?

If you get the chance, leave Ghana. No one is coming to save us ✌️

pic.twitter.com/wpF80u7wqS

— Sage Kenny 🐺🦍 (@Donsarkcess) September 22, 2024

"If my sister dies today…" – Distressing scenes as police deny relatives access to arrested protestors #MetroNews pic.twitter.com/Q9IZX6pixg

— Metro TV Ghana (@metrotvgh) September 24, 2024

Citizens have accused him of silencing dissent and being complicit in galamsey, which has polluted rivers and devastated local communities. The hashtag #AkufoAddoIsATyrant has gained momentum as a symbol of growing dissatisfaction with his leadership, with protesters calling for accountability. Despite his international accolades, many Ghanaians are voicing their discontent, questioning the gap between his global image and the reality on the ground.

Below are some of the tweets….

#AkufoAddoIsATyrant https://t.co/U78yOS63m5

— 🌿L҉ A҉ R҉ R҉ Y҉🌿 (@Larry__Andy) September 24, 2024

The Ghana president is a dictator #AkufoAddoIsATyrant #StopGalamseyNow #FreeTheCitizens

— ESEM (@esem_zack) September 25, 2024

We are being governed by a tyrant

— Tempus Fugit (@Philclever) September 24, 2024

People didn’t March in front of bullets during the 1948 riots to make a breakthrough in raising Ghanaian voices against injustice for charlatans to design and preside over a system that illegally puts a pregnant woman in police custody. #FreeTheCitizens #AkufoAddoIsATyrant

— kweku odame toyin (@lordtee) September 24, 2024

In a democratic state, people are being arrested and remanded for two weeks for protesting against illegal mining? #AkufoAddoIsATyrant #FreetheCitizens

— Ankamemaame⚡️ (@ankamemaame) September 24, 2024

AKUFFO ADDO IS A TYRANT‼️
AKUFFO ADDO IS A TYRANT‼️
AKUFFO ADDO IS A TYRANT‼️
AKUFFO ADDO IS A TYRANT‼️
AKUFFO ADDO IS A TYRANT‼️
AKUFFO ADDO IS A TYRANT‼️
AKUFFO ADDO IS A TYRANT‼️
AKUFFO ADDO IS A TYRANT‼️#ReOccupyJulorbiHouse #FreetheCitizens #StopGalamseyNow

— Kelvin (@boateng_og) September 24, 2024

I guess it was oppress us!!!!!!! #AkufoAddoIsATyrant #FreetheCitizens https://t.co/IjDQL8SiY4

— Ankamemaame⚡️ (@ankamemaame) September 24, 2024

nothing that is happening is surprising. but that doesn’t make any of this any less heartbreaking 💔. this country is in shambles. this democracy is a sham #FreetheCitizens #AkufoAddoIsATyrant

— hehehehehe 🦇 (@frayedjacket) September 25, 2024