Ghana wants to remove a statue of Indian independence leader Mohandas Gandhi from a university in the capital, citing a controversy over what critics call his "racist identity."

The move would be for the statue's safety, telling the critics that "we must remember that people evolve”, the government explained.

Last month, the professors at the University of Ghana launched a petition calling for the removal of the statue, which was unveiled by Indian President Pranab Mukherjee in June.

The foreign affairs ministry of the Ghana said the government "would want to relocate the statue from the University of Ghana to ensure its safety."

According to Obadele Kambon, one of the petition's organizers, there was no confirmation the statue would be removed. He said moving the statue to another location in Ghana would be insufficient.

He urged the government to send it back to India. "We don't think the statue would be well received anywhere in Ghana," he said.

Ghana's statement said 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 statement also expressed concern that the professors' campaign could harm Ghana's ties to India.

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Nandini