Gandhi statue controversy affecting Ghana, India relations - Antwi Danso

International relations expert and former senior fellow at the Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy, Dr. Vladmir Antwi Danso has criticised some authorities of the University of Ghana for petitioning to pull down the statue of Mahatma Gandhi.

Highlighting the importance of India’s hero, Dr. Antwi Danso stated that the positive aspects of Mahatma Gandhi far outweighed the negatives and thus cautioned the university authorities to tread cautiously on the matter.

The former senior research fellow at LECIAD reminded Ghanaians to recognise the positive difference and impact that Gandhi had brought to the world, adding that he represented world peace, struggle and democracy.

Dr. Antwi Danso indicated that the manner in which the Gandhi statue was being treated could strain the good relationship between the Ghanaian and the Indian government.

India gave out a $60 million loan to Ghana, half of which was a grant. The result of the loan was the building of the Jubilee House, now renamed as the Flagstaff house.

Dr. Antwi Danso sighted that although Dr. Kwame Nkrumah had been accused of being a dictator and a thief, people still recognised the positive side of him in world affairs and Ghanaian politics. He urged the university populace to embrace the Gandhi statue as he stood for something higher.

On Monday night, the Gandhi statue was defaced by some unknown persons suspected to be sympathisers with the #GandhiMustFall movement.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in Ghana on Wednesday said government want to relocate the statue from the University to ensure its safety and to avoid the controversy on campus which was being a distraction of the “strong ties of friendship that has existed over the years.”

The statement, therefore, urged Ghanaians to look beyond the comments attributed to Gandhi and acknowledge his role as one of the most outstanding personalities of the last century who demonstrated that non-violent resistance could effect great change.