Statues In Effutu Dream: A Decolonial Slant on Visual Identity and Aesthetic Sovereignty

This study offers a comprehensive analysis of the decolonisation undertones in the five permanent statues of the Effutu Dream Beautification Project (EDBP) in Simpa (Winneba), Ghana. The research addresses the persistence of Eurocentric historical narratives and aesthetic standards in Ghanaian urban centres, which continue to marginalise indigenous heritage and identity. The study evaluates how the Reconciliation, Unity, Aboakyer, Ofarnyi Kwegya, and Fishermen of Akosua Village statues function as deliberate acts of decolonial reclamation. It interrogates the linguistic transition from "Winneba" to "Simpa" as a foundational act rooted in Sankofa philosophy. It also analyses the shift towards Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) as a rejection of the colonial "bronze standard." This study provides a practical framework for "Visual Sovereignty," demonstrating how local materiality and indigenous nomenclature can dismantle colonial legacies in public spaces. Through the lens of curatorial agonism, the research also identifies public dissent and the removal of the Reconciliation Statue as vital manifestations of democratic agency. Ultimately, the study contributes to the global conversation on heritagisation by showing that decolonisation is more than a symbolic act; it is a contested, community-led process of cultural resilience.

Keywords: Decolonisation, Simpa, Visual Sovereignty, Aesthetic Sovereignty, Sankofa, Heritagisation.