Gov’t alarmed over attacks on Gandhi statue

Government will relocate the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the University of Ghana (UG) campus to ensure its safety, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has said.

This comes a day after media reports that, the statue, had been defaced by some unknown persons, who were incensed by its presence in the academic community.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration on Wednesday, described as “unfortunate verbal attacks”.

The allegations are that Mahatma Gandhi, was a racist and is not worth honoring with a statue.

The statement from the Ministry said, the comments were “attack on an Indian Nationalist Hero and icon, who is revered and cherished by over one billion people, who are either citizens of India or persons of Indian decent.”

The Ministry, lamented the comments and agitations against the presence of the statue on the University, which has the potential of creating disaffection for Ghana at the level of Government relations and among Ghanaians across the world.

The Ministry, also emphasized that government erected the statue on the University of Ghana campus with the consent of the University’s authorities saying, “The University was not compelled by government to accept the statue.”

It added that, “While acknowledging that human as he was, Mahatma Gandhi , may have had his flaws, we must remember that people evolve. He inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.”

“The government would, therefore want to relocate the statue from the University of Ghana to ensure its safety and to avoid the controversy on the Legon Campus, being a distraction of our strong ties of friendship that has existed over the years.

To this end, the Ministry is urging Ghanaians to look beyond the comments attributed to Mahatma Gandhi and acknowledge his role as one of the most outstanding personalities of the last century, ” the statement concluded.

A former Director of the Institute of African Studies, Professor Akosua Adomako Ampofo, in September started a campaign, demanding the removal of the statue of Indian independence icon, Mahatma Gandhi, from the University of Ghana campus.

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Prof Adomako Ampofo, together with another academic at the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana, Dr. Obadéle Kambon, urged members of the University of Ghana Council to heed to the petition arguing among other things that, Gandhi was a racist against black people and honoring him sets the wrong example for students.

But, Ghana’s former High Commissioner to India, Professor Mike Ocquaye, has described as unnecessary demands for the demolition of the statue.

According to the professor of political science and lawyer, a decision to demolish the statue, might have implications on diplomatic ties between Ghana and India.

So far, the university authorities, have not commented on the matter, and have also not responded to the petitioners.

But it appears some unknown persons in support of the call, may want to take the law into their hands, by gradually destroying the statue.