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NPP UK Press Conference In Commemoration Of The 50th Anniversary Of The Death Of Dr. JB Danquah

Michael Ansah, Chairman, NPP UK
By NPP UK
NPP UK Press Conference In Commemoration Of The 50th Anniversary Of The Death Of Dr. JB Danquah
05.02.2015 LISTEN

Good afternoon ladies and Gentlemen of the Press.

We thank you for honouring our invitation to this Press Conference.

Today marks the 50th Anniversary of the death of a great son of Ghana, and indeed Africa, Dr Joseph Kwame Kyeretwi Boakye Danquah, (born December 21, 1895, Bepong, Gold Coast—and who met his untimely death in the cells of Ghana's maximum security prison at Nsawam, on February 4, 1965). JB Danquah was a lawyer, author, and politician—the foremost of Gold Coast politicians and nationalist leader —who played a pivotal role throughout Ghana's pursuit of independence and during the country's early years up until his death.

This great leader of the Gold Coast, later Ghana, blazed a trail that set the course of the history of our nation. The fields of our nation's history are strewn with the works of this man, his vision, his foresight, his ideology, strength of character, and his unquestionable leadership. All these bear testament to the enduring values that underpin the political philosophy he espoused - building a truly free, proud, African nation, a neo liberal multi-party democracy – “a property owning democracy” - deeply steeped in liberal democratic principles, individual liberties and freedoms, and governed on the principles of the rule of law and social justice. These ideals and values, guide our nation today. The clock of history has fully turned to the hour he dared to dream of, and Ghana, 57 years after our independence, can proudly say that we are a free democratic state.

Todaythough, 50 years after the death of this man of vision, a great deal remains to be accomplished. The Danquah-Busia- Dombo tradition will continue to ensure that our democracy is protected and deepened. That never will our nation be governed by systems that oppress our people. Never again will our nation be governed by systems that impoverish our people or systems that deny our people their inalienable rights to the freedoms for which so many have died!

Danquah was a man who sacrificed his life for the cause of our nation, a man who stood tall at the hour of our need, a man who was there through the gestation of our nation, and saw it being birthed at independence. He dared to dream of a Ghana free of tyranny. A nation where every man, woman and child, can enjoy liberties and freedoms! He died with his vision of a Ghana free of tyranny, unfulfilled.

JB Danquah has been aptly referred to as the “Doyen of Gold Coast politics” – the leading light, the leading figure, the first among equals! This description is apt for several reasons including the pivotal role he played to bring about the birth of the nation Ghana!

Today, we members of NPP UK want to remember the work and contribution of this great man, and to appeal to all Ghanaians to come together, for us to provide a fitting tribute to his selfless contribution to building our nation. As a maturing democracy, the time has come for us to celebrate our heroes without the myopic lenses of our political biases. The time has come for us, with mature heads, to accord the necessary respect and dignity in celebration of the contribution of great men who have gone before us,regardless of political persuasions that have divided us as a nation for so long.

Here is why we must celebrate this unique gift to our nation!

It was Danquah's vision early on that gave definition of the clarion call for the independence or self -government of the 3 territories that were then under the rule of the British Empire.

It was his militant persistence, through the 1930s, that brought a British colonial government to the point of promising to return the Gold Coast to self-rule within 10 years, from the 100th anniversary of the Bond of 1844

“The declaration of the Independence of the Gold Coast on 6 March 1957, marked the enactment of two historic events: the liberation of the Chiefs and people of the Gold Coast from the legal effect of the Bond of 1844, and the liberation of the imperial power from the legal effect of a promise of Gold Coast Self Government made by Earl of Kimberly, and Secretary of State of the Colonies on March 10 1873” JB Danquah – The Historical Significance of the Bond of 1944.

The Bond of 1844 – signed by the Denchira, Assin and Fante Chiefs – and excuted before the Governor of the Gold Coast on 6 March, 1844, recognised the people of the Gold Coast as an independent people!

Danquah made several significant contributions to building a strong and prosperous Ghana, and laying the foundations of the freedoms and liberties we enjoy today!

Dr Danquah is credited with giving Ghana its name.It was his foresight that led him to research, and to suggest the name of the glorious ancient empire Ghana, as the name for our new nation

It was Danquah who fought for the establishment of the Cocoa Marketing Board (CMB) in 1947, championing of the farmers' cause. As a member of the Legislative Council in 1947, he helped to pass the Cocoa-Marketing Board Ordinance. His contribution in this regard was duly recognised by the farmers, when they presented him with a Commendatory and Acclamatory Address at Nsawam for showing them the way to prosperity. They called him “AKUAFO KANEA”. This contribution effectively led to the economic prosperity the Gold Coast and Ghana enjoyed in the 1950s.

His decisive intervention led to the establishment of the University of Ghana. It was JB Danquah who prepareda memorandum to the Secretary of State, protesting against the Colonial Government's acceptance of the minority recommendation of the Walter Elliot Commission, for the establishment of a West African University. He demanded a separate University for the Gold Coast. The protest by Danquah and otherscompelled the British Government to agree to establish the University College of the Gold Coast in 1948.

Danquah's fervent and vigorous opposition to Nkrumah led to his incarceration at the Nsawam Prison several times under the infamous Preventive Detention Act. He was again arrested in January 1964, and detained after Police Constable Ametewee's attempt on the life of Nkrumah. Danquah was the lawyer for Ametewee, and he was accused of trying to assassinate the President! On February 4. 1965 he suffered a heart attack and died in the condemned cells of the Nsawam Prison.

Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, the celebrated Nigerian first president averred in his tribute to Dr J B Danquah as a man who paid "The Price of Leadership" in Ghana and Africa. Chief Obafemi Awolowo called him a “great Nationalist,". Lance Mallalieu Q.C. in tribute said, “It was you who led and achieved Ghana's Independence for Ghana”.

Retrospect
Regardless of oft repeated attempts to smear Danquah and even denigrate his contribution to our struggle for independenceand the birth of our nation, the truth is that J B Danquah was a proud nationalist, a proud patriot, and the true leader of our independence struggle. He was a liberal democrat who espoused capitalist ideas. He was a pragmatist who believed that Ghana needs "independence within a shortest possible time," whilst Nkrumah was a radical socialist with strong conviction that Ghana needed "Self-Government Now."

Today we have witnessed the end of history! The great ideological battle and political orthodoxies that defined this era have been decided by the lessons of contemporary history! Ghana, like many other nations “east of the proverbial iron curtain”, has made a clear choice–Danquah's choice then, and our choice now - the choice for individual liberties, the choice for multiparty democracy, the choice for the rule of law, the choice essentially for development in freedom! These choices founded on liberal democratic principles, and based on enduring values, are grounded in Danquah's philosophy.

Call for restoration
We want to use this occasion today to call for true recognition of Danquah's contribution to the nationalist struggle and the founding of our nation.

Wetherefore call on the Government to rightly restore dignity, and place Danquah in his rightful place in our history.

His role as a founding father of our nation is without doubt!

The time has come for the University of Ghana should rightly be re-named after this great man.

Let us together, use this occasion of the 50th anniversary of his sad and untimely passing, to recognise this true son of Ghana, this true light of Africa!

Let us as a nation, be informed and guided by Danquah's example, Danquah's unique sacrifice! Let us stay the course of democracy and rule of law.

To conclude, I want us to be reminded and to hear the heart of this great man….what he sought for Ghana…

"What we want is a Government in touch with the very life of their people, their sorrows, their groanings, their wants, their sufferings and their grievances and until we get that government in this country, we will forever continue to agitate and demand for a better Government.” J B Danquah, 28th March, 1950

This is the government that the future NPP administration in 2017, under the Presidency of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will offer! This is the true path to national restoration, the path to social justice, and the path to fulfilment of our hopes and aspirations as a people.This is the path to “development in freedom”.

Long live the memory of JB Danquah
Long line NPP
Long live Ghana
Thank you
Michael Ansah, Chairman NPP UK,
London, 4 February, 2015

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