General News of Monday, 20 January 2025

Source: mynewsgh.com

Statues should not be partisan – Kweku Darko Ankrah

Kweku Darko Ankrah serves as a historian at the University of Ghana Kweku Darko Ankrah serves as a historian at the University of Ghana

A University of Ghana historian Kweku Darko Ankrah emphasized the importance of consultation and critical thinking when constructing statues or effigies of historical figures.

His remarks highlighted the need to consider individuals' historical relevance and approach such projects with a non-partisan mindset.

During an interview on TV3, he stated, “When you are a leader and you want to put up some of these effigies or statues, critical thinking must go into it [and] it must not be partisan,”

He suggested that assembling a committee of historians to study and evaluate the historical significance of the person being honoured would ensure the process is thorough and inclusive.

Drawing examples from Ghana’s landmarks, Ankrah referenced Obetsebi Lamptey Circle and Danquah Circle, which feature statues of Obetsebi Lamptey and J.B. Danquah, respectively.

“Nobody goes about desecrating these statues because people understood the historical relevance of these individuals,” he explained.

According to him, the absence of controversy surrounding these statues is a testament to the careful thought and consultation that went into their erection.