Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called for an end to the persistent attempts to undermine the legacy of Dr. J.B. Danquah, describing such efforts as unnecessary and unjust.
Speaking at the Ebenezer Presbyterian congregation in Kyebi, Eastern Region, during the 60th anniversary of Danquah’s passing, Akufo-Addo passionately defended the historical significance of the late statesman.
“Yet Dr. Danquah’s contribution to the development of Ghana, his name continues to elicit needless controversy in death as in life,” he said.
“We recall vividly the inhuman conditions of Kwame Nkrumah’s CPP government attached to the conduct of his burial in 1965, after his cruel death in solitary confinement in the dungeons of Nsawam prisons.”
Reflecting on how Danquah’s name continues to spark controversy decades after his passing, Akufo-Addo noted that the late politician’s impact on Ghana’s democratic journey remains undeniable.
“We are current witnesses, 60 years after his death, to the vicious name-calling that attends his mention by would-be responsible members of society,” he observed.
“Those of us who love the work of this great champion of Ghanaian freedom and progress must take solace in this matter, not just from the benevolence of our God in heaven, but also from the philosophic calm which Dr. Danquah claimed for himself in the cells of Sekondi prison.”
Akufo-Addo emphasized that Danquah’s legacy should serve as a guiding force for the country’s democracy.
“The memory of Danquah demands that we remain vigilant, ensuring the democracy in Ghana is not just a rhetorical idea but a lived reality,” he stated.
Highlighting the personal significance of Danquah’s influence on his leadership, he said, “As I stand before you today, I cannot help but reflect on the weight of Dr Danquah’s legacy; his portrait in my office is more than a symbol. It is a daily reminder of the duty we bear as public servants, as citizens, and as inheritors of democracy.”
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