Historian Settles Debate On UG Founders With Documentary ‘Proof’

It turns out it took a village to set up the University of Ghana, with contributions ranging from Chiefs, the Gold Coast intellectuals and to cocoa farmers.

According to a historian and researcher at the University of Ghana, Kweku Darko Ankrah, some people including Arko Korsah, Nene Azu Mate Kole, Otumfuo Sir Osei Agyemang Prempeh, and JB Danquah pushed the colonial government and worked to establish the university.

In an interview with Citi News, Mr Darko Ankrah who was speaking on the back of claims by President Nana Akufo-Addo that his grand-uncle, Dr JB Danquah founded the premier University.

The president's comment has sparked varied commentary, particularly on social media, with many Ghanaians challenging his version of the story.

But speaking to Citi News' Kojo Akoto Boateng, Mr Ankrah said even though JB Danquah played a role in the establishment of the university, it must be noted that the University is the product of the collective effort of several other people.

He insisted that it was built with a “collective effort of the Gold Coasters” and monies generated from cocoa farmers.

“The Gold Coast intelligentsia, the Gold Coast elites as well as the farmers, the ordinary people, it is their money that established University of Ghana especially the cocoa farmers.”

“And they need to be congratulated. But when we talk about individual efforts, first and foremost we need put historical chronology and see who the primus inter pares in all this debate is. You will realize that, many people made arguments, the arguments they made from 1861 up to 1940s, these people wrote it down, the colonial government did not budge. But in 1943, they formed Eliot commission.”

Click below for the full interview: