Sainthood Dismantled? Gandhi’s Statue Removed In Ghana After Protesters  Accuse Him Of Racism

A statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Ghana’s most reputable University has been removed following an online campaign accusing him of racism against black Africans, reports The New Indian Express. The statue had been unveiled at the University of Ghana in Accra by former president Pranab Mukherjee two years ago.

The statue was removed overnight between Tuesday (11 December) and Wednesday (12 December), as per students who spoke to AFP.

The petition demanding the statue’s removal was led by University lecturers citing Gandhi’s remarks calling Indians ‘infinitely superior’ to black Africans. The head of language, literature and drama at the Institute of African Studies, Obadele Kambon, called the removal an issue of "self-respect".

The University of Ghana is just one of several university campuses in Africa and other places where protests have targeted the well-known face of India’s freedom struggle accusing him of racism.

University authorities have not released any official statement explaining the move. An official from Ghana’s foreign affairs ministry called it an internal decision of the university.

The previous government in Ghana had decided on relocating the statue stating that they did not want the controversy surrounding it to distract from India-Ghana ties.