The Afigya Kwabre South constituency chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Odeneho Kwaku Appiah has said that a member of the big 6 and a founding member of the NPP tradition, Dr. J. B. Danquah had his country at heart.
” Dr. J B Danquah who is described as the “doyen of Gold coast (now Ghana) politics was a politician, scholar and lawyer who gave his life in service of his nation Ghana. Indeed, he was a true and real patriot”.
Chairman Odeneho who has been chairman for many years shared the above views on his social media platform, Facebook over the weekend to mark the death of J.B Danquah in prison on the 4th February, 1965.
” J B Danquah did a lot for Ghana. Apart from contributing to the independence struggle, he fought for freedom of speech and even championed the cause of farmers so much so that he was awarded a citation by the farmers who called him Akuafo Kanea (the light of farmers). Indeed, his writings are still consulted by students of history, sociology, law, cultural studies and many others “.
Odeneho who leads the Ashanti region association of constituency chairmen expressed sadness that such a noble man credited with giving Ghana its name had to die in detention 57 years ago.
“History tells us that J B Danquah was a great man, brave and played a significant role in pre and post-colonial Ghana.
” in 1961, he was imprisoned under the Preventive Detention Act (PDA) and was released in 1962. He became the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) president and was re-arrested in 1964 and sent to the Nsawam prisons where he died whiles in detention in February, 1965. Never again should we allow such a thing to happen “.
Odeneho who is seeking to end the tenure of the famous chairman Wontumi in Ashanti region urged young people to look for J B Danquah’s writings to learn from him.
“This was a man who was intelligent, humble and serviceable. He believed in accountability, transparency, education and freedom of speech.
“His books, the Akan laws and customs (1928) and the Akan doctrine of God (1944) are full of wisdom”, Odeneho noted.
He stated that he was not surprised that President Akufo Addo, a nephew of J B Danquah, as president has shown great commitment to improving education and farming.
” Dr. J B Danquah should be happy wherever he is now because his nephew, President Akufo Addo is walking in his footsteps and making his uncle (Dr. Danquah) and his family proud”, Odeneho stated.
