RE: Doyen of Ghana Politics - J. B. Danquah, A Tribute Part 2

Read Article

Comments (62)

This article is closed for comments.

Read Comments Comments (62)

James Obeng 9 years ago

ALL KWARTENG'S ARTICLES ARE BASED ON FACTS AND SOLID REFERENCES,UNKILE THE CONFUSED DR SAS WHOSE RANTINGS ARE BASED ON HYPOTHESIS.GOOD JOB,FRANCIS!

ALL KWARTENG'S ARTICLES ARE BASED ON FACTS AND SOLID REFERENCES,UNKILE THE CONFUSED DR SAS WHOSE RANTINGS ARE BASED ON HYPOTHESIS.GOOD JOB,FRANCIS!
ABU DANQUAH OKYEMAN KIBI 9 years ago

U MR .FOOL DR.JB DANQUAH KILLED BY NKRUMAH IS GONE .IF NOT SO HE LED A CONGREGATION OF PROVISIONL COUNCILOF CHIEFS ,WHERE WAS NKRUMAH?.MY GRAND DID HIS BEST PART WHAT ABOUT URS AS NKRUMAH CRIED HEARING THE DEATH OF MY GRAND , ...
read full comment

U MR .FOOL DR.JB DANQUAH KILLED BY NKRUMAH IS GONE .IF NOT SO HE LED A CONGREGATION OF PROVISIONL COUNCILOF CHIEFS ,WHERE WAS NKRUMAH?.MY GRAND DID HIS BEST PART WHAT ABOUT URS AS NKRUMAH CRIED HEARING THE DEATH OF MY GRAND ,.AND U WRITING ALL THIS NONESENSE ,U ARE AN IDIOT GO TO HELL ,.WHO CHANNGED THE NAME GOLD COAST SLAVE TRADE NAME TO GHANA ,.DR.JB DANQUAH DID ,ASSHOLE WRITER .ESCUSE MY LANGUAGE.HOW MANY OF THE BIG SIX HAD DR.DEGREE ,.IDIOT
ADJOA WANGARA 9 years ago

Trust me francis kwarteng is simply an idiot. Why am I saying this? Simply read kwarteng and you will bear me out.

Trust me francis kwarteng is simply an idiot. Why am I saying this? Simply read kwarteng and you will bear me out.
NOKWARE ASA 9 years ago

Ante Wangara, truthfully I read Krakye Kwarteng's well-researched article, and I did not come across any idiocy. So what is your point?
Or you didn't understand what he wrote, or you are just being unthinkingly political?

Ante Wangara, truthfully I read Krakye Kwarteng's well-researched article, and I did not come across any idiocy. So what is your point?
Or you didn't understand what he wrote, or you are just being unthinkingly political?
NANA YAW 9 years ago

Is not too late to go back to school, kwasiato!

Is not too late to go back to school, kwasiato!
ABU DANQUAH OKYEMAN KIBI 9 years ago

U MR .FOOL DR.JB DANQUAH KILLED BY NKRUMAH IS GONE .IF NOT SO HE LED A CONGREGATION OF PROVISIONL COUNCILOF CHIEFS ,WHERE WAS NKRUMAH?.MY GRAND DID HIS BEST PART WHAT ABOUT URS AS NKRUMAH CRIED HEARING THE DEATH OF MY GRAND , ...
read full comment

U MR .FOOL DR.JB DANQUAH KILLED BY NKRUMAH IS GONE .IF NOT SO HE LED A CONGREGATION OF PROVISIONL COUNCILOF CHIEFS ,WHERE WAS NKRUMAH?.MY GRAND DID HIS BEST PART WHAT ABOUT URS AS NKRUMAH CRIED HEARING THE DEATH OF MY GRAND ,.AND U WRITING ALL THIS NONESENSE ,U ARE AN IDIOT GO TO HELL ,.WHO CHANNGED THE NAME GOLD COAST SLAVE TRADE NAME TO GHANA ,.DR.JB DANQUAH DID ,ASSHOLE WRITER .ESCUSE MY LANGUAGE .
Vodoo Xebieso 9 years ago

Your stupid grandfather was rather the biggest or the largest fool of all. Kwarteng is always right with his facts and on course as usual.

Your stupid grandfather was rather the biggest or the largest fool of all. Kwarteng is always right with his facts and on course as usual.
ABU DANQUAH OKYEMAN KIBI 9 years ago

U MR .FOOL DR.JB DANQUAH KILLED BY NKRUMAH IS GONE .IF NOT SO HE LED A CONGREGATION OF PROVISIONL COUNCILOF CHIEFS ,WHERE WAS NKRUMAH?.MY GRAND DID HIS BEST PART WHAT ABOUT URS AS NKRUMAH CRIED HEARING THE DEATH OF MY GRAND , ...
read full comment

U MR .FOOL DR.JB DANQUAH KILLED BY NKRUMAH IS GONE .IF NOT SO HE LED A CONGREGATION OF PROVISIONL COUNCILOF CHIEFS ,WHERE WAS NKRUMAH?.MY GRAND DID HIS BEST PART WHAT ABOUT URS AS NKRUMAH CRIED HEARING THE DEATH OF MY GRAND ,.AND U WRITING ALL THIS NONESENSE ,U ARE AN IDIOT GO TO HELL ,.WHO CHANNGED THE NAME GOLD COAST SLAVE TRADE NAME TO GHANA ,.DR.JB DANQUAH DID ,ASSHOLE WRITER .ESCUSE MY LANGUAGE .
ABU DANQUAH OKYEMAN KIBI 9 years ago

U MR .FOOL DR.JB DANQUAH KILLED BY NKRUMAH IS GONE .IF NOT SO HE LED A CONGREGATION OF PROVISIONL COUNCILOF CHIEFS ,WHERE WAS NKRUMAH?.MY GRAND DID HIS BEST PART WHAT ABOUT URS AS NKRUMAH CRIED HEARING THE DEATH OF MY GRAND , ...
read full comment

U MR .FOOL DR.JB DANQUAH KILLED BY NKRUMAH IS GONE .IF NOT SO HE LED A CONGREGATION OF PROVISIONL COUNCILOF CHIEFS ,WHERE WAS NKRUMAH?.MY GRAND DID HIS BEST PART WHAT ABOUT URS AS NKRUMAH CRIED HEARING THE DEATH OF MY GRAND ,.AND U WRITING ALL THIS NONESENSE ,U ARE AN IDIOT GO TO HELL ,.WHO CHANNGED THE NAME GOLD COAST SLAVE TRADE NAME TO GHANA ,.DR.JB DANQUAH DID ,ASSHOLE WRITER .ESCUSE MY LANGUAGE.HOW MANY OF THE BIG SIX HAD DR.DEGREE ,.IDIOT
Haile Mengistus Manasseh V11 9 years ago

Kwarteng's factual account Danquah's ethnic politics is buried in the political fabric of most intellectuals from the Akyem land. Listen to Osafo Marfo's current alleged tribal bigotry statement and interpolate it to the view ...
read full comment

Kwarteng's factual account Danquah's ethnic politics is buried in the political fabric of most intellectuals from the Akyem land. Listen to Osafo Marfo's current alleged tribal bigotry statement and interpolate it to the views of Danquah, there is no deviation. They are based on the same agenda.
BOAFO YENA 9 years ago

They are hurting NPP & Akufo Addo big time

They are hurting NPP & Akufo Addo big time
Haile Mengistus Manasseh V11 9 years ago

Kwarteng's factual account of Danquah's ethnic politics is buried in the political fabric of most intellectuals from the Akyem land. Listen to Osafo Marfo's current alleged tribal bigotry statement and interpolate it to the v ...
read full comment

Kwarteng's factual account of Danquah's ethnic politics is buried in the political fabric of most intellectuals from the Akyem land. Listen to Osafo Marfo's current alleged tribal bigotry statement and interpolate it to the views of Danquah, there is no deviation. They are based on the same agenda.
Paul 9 years ago

Whatever anyone thinks of Dr Kwarteng's leanings and sympathies, there is no denying the fact that he painstakingly attempts to present information from verifiable sources. The same cannot be said of others who write on the s ...
read full comment

Whatever anyone thinks of Dr Kwarteng's leanings and sympathies, there is no denying the fact that he painstakingly attempts to present information from verifiable sources. The same cannot be said of others who write on the same subject, but whose arguments are mostly hollow, monosyllabic and punctuated by ethnocentric and emotional outbursts where these are completely uncalled for.

For anyone to dwell on the actions of the government of Dr Kwame Nkrumah e.g. in respect of the Preventive Detention Act as the 'defining' issue of Nkrumah's government to the exclusion of all others; and a compete refusal to study the whole dynamics of the practicalities on the ground, the actions (and inactions) of others, and all the maneuverings, posturings and shenanigans occurring at all levels during the quasi independence and immediate post-independence period, to me is not just intellectual dishonesty, but more importantly a blatant attempt to deny the facts of our history.

There is no doubt that the best history, and the best historians, are those who are bold enough to confront the facts well gathered, sifted through, checked and cross checked and critically analysed. It is that type of history which when recorded, stands the test of time. Sadly, some of our best known academic historians were (are) guilty of presenting their stories through narrow, parochial, selfish, and sometimes ethnocentric, patronising, elitist and distorted lenses. These are the very historians who the facts show, were averse to objective discourse and would punish any student who sought to do the right thing by examining our history in the proper way.

What a disservice we do to society when we misrepresent facts in the name of politics, political expediency and blatant ethnocentric loyalties' which seek to perpetrate a defeated narrative and a superiority complex!!!

Whatever anyone thinks of Nkrumah, one thing for which he was consistent and for which I personally admire him was his deep-felt conviction that the unitary nation state in which tribe, creed and other associated links were relegated to the background, and in which ALL the people recognised that they were all part of ONE NATION, ONE PEOPLE with a COMMON DESTINY was our best and only reasonable way of progressing. Germany is what it is today and where they are today because of that precise recognition and determination especially after World War II.

Sadly the historical facts seem to suggest that the same cannot be said of Danquah. Therefore in our efforts to recognise Danquah's contribution to our history and nation, my own view is that focus should be placed on areas where his 'strengths' lie, and things he did concretely which are borne out by the facts, rather than any attempts to 'pitch' him against Nkrumah in the way that people seek to do, especially those who in my view are intellectually weak, and have not been transformed from their mindset, intellectual standing and literary standing despite all the further 'education'they have received after their initial training.
Kwadwo 9 years ago

What has been presented herei is sourced from the usual anti Danquah pro Nkrumaist scholars like Asamoah Botwe. If this makes the writer a person with a "transformed mind, then your objectivity of this topic is highly questi ...
read full comment

What has been presented herei is sourced from the usual anti Danquah pro Nkrumaist scholars like Asamoah Botwe. If this makes the writer a person with a "transformed mind, then your objectivity of this topic is highly questionable. I say this in light of your own recent embarassing adventure on this topic.
francis kwarteng 9 years ago

Kwadwo,

How are you?

Did you bother to find to find out how many times I sourced from Dr. Kwame Botwe-Asamoah out of the numerous sources I used for this piece? Did you also bother to find out who Dr. Botwe-Asamoah also ...
read full comment

Kwadwo,

How are you?

Did you bother to find to find out how many times I sourced from Dr. Kwame Botwe-Asamoah out of the numerous sources I used for this piece? Did you also bother to find out who Dr. Botwe-Asamoah also sourced from?

And by saying "sourced from Dr. Kwame Botwe-Asamoah," are yoy implying that his [Dr. Botwe-Asamoah] has been making up his writeups? If that is your position, what alternative sources do you have challenging Dr. Botwe-Asamoah's work?

Then again, could you tell--give us reasons---us which of the sources I used are pro-Nkrumah and which pro-Danquah? And give us your sources identifying which cited author is pro-Danquah and which pro-Nkrumah?

And do you know Dr. David Owusu-Ansah, one of my sources, is pro-Danquah/UP? Check that out (and all the other sources I cited in this work) and leave Paul alone.

Kwadwo, tell us your version of events using pro-Danquah sources to critique this piece.

Thanks.
Prof Lungu 9 years ago

CRUCIBLE: "...a place or occasion of severe test or trial..."

READ: "... “In the highest reaches of national life, there should be no reference to Fantes, Asantes, Ewes, Gas, Dagombas, ‘Srangers,’ and so forth...We s ...
read full comment

CRUCIBLE: "...a place or occasion of severe test or trial..."

READ: "... “In the highest reaches of national life, there should be no reference to Fantes, Asantes, Ewes, Gas, Dagombas, ‘Srangers,’ and so forth...We should call ourselves Ghanaians, the brothers and sisters, members of the same community, the state of Ghana.” Where does Danquah’s and Obetsebi-Lamptey’s “strangers” fit into this geopolitical framework?..."

OUR COMMENT: The essence of the entire discourse, stupid?

Pray, tell all!

Where did you stand?

Where do you stand?

Yes you - You Danquah-Deathknell-Palanquin Supporting Sub-Prelates!
Vodoo Xebieso 9 years ago

No wonder the bastards had to be jailed for treason against the state and humanity. May their bones burn in Hades.

No wonder the bastards had to be jailed for treason against the state and humanity. May their bones burn in Hades.
Prof Lungu 9 years ago

READ:
Ghana Under Kwame Nkrumah
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

"...On July 1, 1960, the last vestige of British political power over the country ended when the country assumed a republican status. This was after Nkruma ...
read full comment

READ:
Ghana Under Kwame Nkrumah
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

"...On July 1, 1960, the last vestige of British political power over the country ended when the country assumed a republican status. This was after Nkrumah had defeated Danquah in a plebiscite held on the 19, 23 and 27 April 1960 to decide on the country adopting the presidential system and a republican constitution..."

Source: ghanadistricts.com/home/?_=49&sa=4768&ssa=786
Akwasi Prempeh 9 years ago

Dennis Austin writes the following in his 1961 article, “The Working Committee of the United Gold Coast Convention” in Journal of African History, II, 2: 273-297:

“This [1945] was the period when few of the leaders k ...
read full comment

Dennis Austin writes the following in his 1961 article, “The Working Committee of the United Gold Coast Convention” in Journal of African History, II, 2: 273-297:

“This [1945] was the period when few of the leaders knew precisely what they wanted, but the mass of the people were becoming clear about what they disliked. Prices were rising, jobs difficult to get, cocoa incomes falling off as swollen shoot spread through the Akwapim and Akim areas; the more-than-barely-literate now included many from the middle schools, some with two or three years’ secondary education, who disliked the alliance between the chiefs and the officials [the native authority system], who read of the events in Burma and India, and listened to those who had served abroad with the West African Frontier Force. Altogether there were four or five sections of the Gold Coast society interested in nationalist politics, …”

I will like readers to note that the four or five sections that Austin mentions were

(1) the small independent professional - the so-called ‘intelligentsia’ - and trading class (for example, J. E. Casely Hayford, J. W. De Grft-Johnson, William Ofori Atta, J. B. Danquah, and the ‘merchant princes’ of Accra, Cape Coast and Sekondi) – they ran the newspapers, sat on the Legislative Council, and criticized the government through political organizations like the Aborigines’ Rights Protection Society, the National Congress of British West Africa, the local Ratepayers’ Associations;

(2) the chiefs (for, example, Nana Ofori Atta I – uncle of J. B. Danquah - and Nene Mate Kole) through whom the theory of indirect rule gained medium for practice as the native authorities were introduced in 1927 and strengthened in 1944;

(3) the youth - with less than university education who had become clerks, teachers, clergy and petty traders among whom were formed various local youth associations, improvement societies, debating clubs, and literary societies – who criticized and opposed the established hierarchies of power by using their positions as nkwankwahene and asafoatse.

(4) cocoa farmers who were resisting the machinations of the UAC-led AWAM and destructive effects of the swollen shoot and the colonial government's cutting diseased cocoa trees strategy and the depressed prices of the war period.

(5) the frail trade union associations that attempted to champion the cause of unskilled labour and the small artisan class of drivers, mechanics, masons, etc.

Austin further writes: “This was the context within which UGCC rose and disintegrated and the CPP emerged. When UGCC was formed the leadership consisted of J. B. Danquah (second vice president), William Ofori Atta, E. Akufo Addo (father of Nana Akufo Addo), J. W. de Graft-Johnson, J. Quist-Therson, R. S. Blay (first vice president), F. A. Awooner-Williams (treasurer), A. G. Grant (Pa Grant - Chairman), K. Bentsi Enchill (third vice president, he died and was replaced by S. W. Duncan), W. O. Essuman (Assistant Secretary), and A. Mends (Financial Secretary). The position of a full time secretary was first offered to Ako Adjei who rather recommended Kwame Nkrumah instead because Ako Adjei had known Nkrumah as a skillful and dynamic organizer in both the US and England. When Nkrumah accepted to take the position he was sent £100 for his passage from England. This money came from contributions made by Grant £100, Awooner-Williams £25, and Blay £50. Not a penny came from Danquah.”

“When Nkrumah left the UGCC, the so-called intelligentsia could not hold the UGCC together let alone the rally the masses of the people (farmers, petty traders, clerks, standard seven school graduates, trade unions) to the UGCC’s cause. Even when the CPP leadership was jailed in 1950-51, the ineffectual UGGC could not rise to the occasion to fill the leadership vacuum created as result of the jailing of the CPP leaders after the declaration of Positive Action in 1950.”

Danquah was the “legal adviser (February 1947) for the Ex-Servicemen's Union. Throughout January [1948], Nkrumah and Danquah addressed a number of meetings in towns in the Colony,
including a mass rally at the Palladium Cinema in Accra on 20 February arranged by the Ex-Servicemen's Union. Danquah took the chair at this meeting. He, Nkrumah, Ako Adjei, Ben Tamakloe and F. E. Laryea (secretary and executive member of the Ex-Servicemen's Union) spoke to the mass audience of 9000 which included many more than ex-servicemen. The ex-servicemen were to march in procession and present their petition to the government on Monday, the 23rd. The following day it was postponed to the 28th. In the meantime, Danquah travelled to Kibi, his home town in Akim Abuakwa, where farmers were in an excitable mood,23 and attended a meeting of the Akim Abuakwa Farmers' Union. On Friday the 27th, a second mass rally was held at the Palladium in Accra where Danquah, Akufo Addo, William Ofori Atta, Obetsibi Lamptey-all Convention members-addressed the meeting; and the ex-servicemen
assembled the following day at I p.m. on the old polo ground.”

“Danquah, Quist-Therson, Ofori Atta left Accra at 7.30 a.m. that same Saturday, 28 February, for Saltpond. By four o'clock in the afternoon the procession of ex-servicemen in Accra had left its authorized route, moved along Christiansborg Road to the castle crossroads, clashed with the
police, and two members of the crowd were killed when the European Superintendent of Police opened fire. The same afternoon, looting began in the commercial quarter of Accra: Kingsway Chemists were broken into; someone found a way into W. Bartholomew & Co. with a piece of scantling; then the Kingsway Liquor Store was broached, drink was passed over the wall into Ussher Fort prison, and the crowd battered down the gate to let the prisoners out.”

“And within a fortnight the six active leading members of the Convention-Akufo Addo, Ako Adjei, Ofori Atta, Danquah, Nkrumah and Obetsibi Lamptey-were held in detention. In retrospect, the February riots can be seen as leading direct to the breach between Nkrumah and the Convention. Nkrumah welcomed the Watson Commission's findings that the Working Committee were directly connected with the disturbances. The rest did not. Grant, Awooner-
Williams and Danquah protested strongly to the Commission that they did not accept Nkrumah's plan of organization: they had not read it fully, and now that they had, they certainly did not approve it: all the differences of temperament, experience, status-came out into the open before the Commissioners. When Grant was read the last section of Nkrumah's memorandum, the old man became indignant: ‘He never read that to our meeting '. 'If ',Grant was asked, 'if he had read it would he have approved ?’ ‘We would have stamped on it', Grant replied. 'We would not do anything he [Nkrumah] likes. We old men, like myself, permitting a young man here to do things without our consent that are not palatable to us?’”
Ekow Essamuah 9 years ago

I don't blame uncle JB Danquah for not contributing a dime to bring the 'broke ass' of Kwame Red back to Ghana.

I don't blame uncle JB Danquah for not contributing a dime to bring the 'broke ass' of Kwame Red back to Ghana.
KAS 9 years ago

Thank you Prof Akwasi Aprempeh for your encyclopaedic account which is by the minute and hour. You have provided us with a lot of insight. Well done. Who no no go no!

Thank you Prof Akwasi Aprempeh for your encyclopaedic account which is by the minute and hour. You have provided us with a lot of insight. Well done. Who no no go no!
francis kwarteng 9 years ago

Dear Brother Prempeh,

Good day.

Always on point. Thanks for the priceless knowledge you share with us.

I hope you will always be around to share your encyclopedic knowledge with us.

Please keep coming always.

...
read full comment

Dear Brother Prempeh,

Good day.

Always on point. Thanks for the priceless knowledge you share with us.

I hope you will always be around to share your encyclopedic knowledge with us.

Please keep coming always.

Thanks.
Paul 9 years ago

Clearly these "old men" or "more seasoned veterans" felt a sense of ownership of the process and could not stand "this young man" coming to 'spoil their party' right?

Let us try and really critically examine all the issues ...
read full comment

Clearly these "old men" or "more seasoned veterans" felt a sense of ownership of the process and could not stand "this young man" coming to 'spoil their party' right?

Let us try and really critically examine all the issues properly and present the facts of our history in a more logical, truthful and objective manner to help us better understand and hopefully begin to address our historical shortcomings which continue to inform our politics, beliefs, leanings and actions even today.
francis kwarteng 9 years ago

ABU DANQUAH OKYEMAN KIBI,

It is apparent you did not read the article. Please go back and read it again.

Danquah did not lead the delegation. Nanka-Bruce, Nana Ofori Atta, and Korsah did (GO TO PARAGRAPH 3).

Danquah ...
read full comment

ABU DANQUAH OKYEMAN KIBI,

It is apparent you did not read the article. Please go back and read it again.

Danquah did not lead the delegation. Nanka-Bruce, Nana Ofori Atta, and Korsah did (GO TO PARAGRAPH 3).

Danquah only accompanied the delegation's a secretary. In other words, he did go with the delegation not in a leadership capacity.

And as to where Nkrumah was at the time, he [Nkrumah] was preparing himself to come down to the Gold Coast and re-build their stillborn organization, UGCC, for them and to show them how to free a people from colonial tyrany.

They, Danquah et al., slept as the courageous, politically astute, and conscious Nkrumah led the nation out of bondage! Where was the hibernating Danquah when Nkrumah (and his friends) declared the Gold Coast independent?

Probably with the CIA in the American Embassy applying for a visa to visit the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center, I guess!

How exactly did your grandfather J.B. Danquah teach you to read?
Nana Ansah 9 years ago

Danquah is a run-of-the-mill political criminal of the worst kind with blood on his hands and a skeleton in the closet. Akyea-Mensah Hello!

The man Danquah was even not popular in Akyem backyard Lost on GCPO and NLM ticket ...
read full comment

Danquah is a run-of-the-mill political criminal of the worst kind with blood on his hands and a skeleton in the closet. Akyea-Mensah Hello!

The man Danquah was even not popular in Akyem backyard Lost on GCPO and NLM ticket in 1054 and 1954 respectively. His first wife who jumped ship to join the CPP made the cut to become thr first woman parliamentarian of the Gold Coast. These Danquahseries should stop disturbing us with that lousy lazy mind Danquah. Doyen of what? They can go and tell it to the marines!
Nana Ansah 9 years ago

Danquah is a run-of-the-mill political criminal of the worst kind with blood on his hands and a skeleton in the closet. Akyea-Mensah Hello!

The man Danquah was even not popular in his Akyem backyard. He faded in the mid 50 ...
read full comment

Danquah is a run-of-the-mill political criminal of the worst kind with blood on his hands and a skeleton in the closet. Akyea-Mensah Hello!

The man Danquah was even not popular in his Akyem backyard. He faded in the mid 50's. Lost on GCP and NLM ticket in 1954 and 1956 respectively. His first wife who jumped ship to join the CPP made the cut to become thr first woman parliamentarian of the Gold Coast in 1951. These Danquahseries should stop disturbing us with that lousy lazy mind Danquah. Doyen of what? They can go and tell it to the marines!
francis kwarteng 9 years ago

Dear Brother Nana Ansah,

How are you?

Don't bother about the typos.They have no impact whatsoever on the breadth of your historical and contemporary knowledge.

We understand you perfectly. And we always appreciate ...
read full comment

Dear Brother Nana Ansah,

How are you?

Don't bother about the typos.They have no impact whatsoever on the breadth of your historical and contemporary knowledge.

We understand you perfectly. And we always appreciate your vast knowledge and wisdom. You are also very factual as far as your views goes.

Please keep coming always.

Thanks.
Nana Ansah 9 years ago

Francis, you are heartily welcome! It is my duty of utmost good faith to tell the youth of today the unblemished TRUTH. I will not blind out historical facts but tell it as it is. It is a matter of good faith and trust. Wish ...
read full comment

Francis, you are heartily welcome! It is my duty of utmost good faith to tell the youth of today the unblemished TRUTH. I will not blind out historical facts but tell it as it is. It is a matter of good faith and trust. Wish a great start for the week mate!.

Yours one of a Kind,
Nana Ansah
Ghana 9 years ago

Kwarteng on this your article, I say kudos!!!
These bigots want to deceive Ghanains and the entire world about their diabolical past and present!!!

I think you nailed it this time!!!
Thanks Kwarteng.

Kwarteng on this your article, I say kudos!!!
These bigots want to deceive Ghanains and the entire world about their diabolical past and present!!!

I think you nailed it this time!!!
Thanks Kwarteng.
francis kwarteng 9 years ago

Dear Brother Ghana,

How are you?

You are welcome.

Have a great weekend my brother!

Dear Brother Ghana,

How are you?

You are welcome.

Have a great weekend my brother!
Ghana 9 years ago

Kwarteng, you are most welcome.
Discerning Ghanaians irrespective of our tribal background see ourselves as one people with a common destiny.

These tribal bigots wanted to tear us apart because, they are not in charge. I ...
read full comment

Kwarteng, you are most welcome.
Discerning Ghanaians irrespective of our tribal background see ourselves as one people with a common destiny.

These tribal bigots wanted to tear us apart because, they are not in charge. Its not their first time to exhibit this pessimistic attitude.

No reasonable discerning Ghanaian should vote NPP until they change their ethnocentric diabolical mentality.
Kwadwo 9 years ago

Danquah's ghost continue to haunt Kwarteng and ardent Nkrumaists though he died before the messiah was overthrown. I guess he is the father of Harry Potter who was killed by Lord Voldemort and he will be forever hunted even ...
read full comment

Danquah's ghost continue to haunt Kwarteng and ardent Nkrumaists though he died before the messiah was overthrown. I guess he is the father of Harry Potter who was killed by Lord Voldemort and he will be forever hunted even in his grave by the followers of Lord Voldemort. The only rational explanation for Danquah's vilification is that he might have been the only person to have effectively caused the demise of Nkrumah and his isms even in death. He was was therefore effective. Would you concur, Francis?
Asare Bediakop 9 years ago

Please read the article and stop making a fool of yourself. I have learned a lot I did not know about this Danquah. No wonder Akufo Addo lost the last two elections. Too Arrogant like Danquah.

Please read the article and stop making a fool of yourself. I have learned a lot I did not know about this Danquah. No wonder Akufo Addo lost the last two elections. Too Arrogant like Danquah.
ADJOA WANGARA 9 years ago

francis kwarteng is so stupid to such an extent that he cannot know when and who chases him.

francis kwarteng is so stupid to such an extent that he cannot know when and who chases him.
NOKWARE ASA 9 years ago

Quite pitiful; your only contribution, Ante Wangara, is your laconic insult.

Quite pitiful; your only contribution, Ante Wangara, is your laconic insult.
Vodoo Xebieso 9 years ago

Shut up. Concur with or to what? Danquah is gone and can only be remembered by his relations and those he fooled.

Shut up. Concur with or to what? Danquah is gone and can only be remembered by his relations and those he fooled.
Keneth 9 years ago

That is nonsense. Nkrumah is in the league of world legends how can an irritant like Danquah compare to him.What is happening on this forum is just a local exercise which has nothing to do with the stature of the greatest Afr ...
read full comment

That is nonsense. Nkrumah is in the league of world legends how can an irritant like Danquah compare to him.What is happening on this forum is just a local exercise which has nothing to do with the stature of the greatest African.Danquah is just a mere irritant with a foot note in local folklore.

Nkrumah has a continental impact and is mentioned in the same breath as Ghandi,Churchill,Marx,Lenin and the founding fathers of America etc.
Paul 9 years ago

Please try and show some fairness. Either you disagree with, challenge the sources and / or 'facts' presented, or at least you learn from them. We all have our heroes but surely they were all human and had failings.

I woul ...
read full comment

Please try and show some fairness. Either you disagree with, challenge the sources and / or 'facts' presented, or at least you learn from them. We all have our heroes but surely they were all human and had failings.

I would rather that we looked at Danquah's strengths and personal achievements and tried to project these rather than attempt this Danquah-Nkrumahist monologue which does not help matters. The two clearly had different perspectives on the nation state. It is also true that Danquah had clearly been overshadowed and had lost support and recognition even among his own people by the time of our independence. Have you asked yourself why that was? Pause for a moment please.
Kwadwo 9 years ago

Paul, if your point that Danquah had even lost support amongst his own people is true,then Nkrumaist don't need to worry about that issue. What irks some of us is an attempt to justify his incarceration without charge and tri ...
read full comment

Paul, if your point that Danquah had even lost support amongst his own people is true,then Nkrumaist don't need to worry about that issue. What irks some of us is an attempt to justify his incarceration without charge and trial of Danquah. My commentaries are primarily based on Nkrumah's abuse of due process and the imposition of the one party state and him being declared president for life by the CPP dominated legislature. I have also also been hard on Nkrumah's interventionist policy against our neighbors.
The failure of ardent Nkrumaist to even acknowledge these policy flaws is what I find troubling. So you are incorrect when you seem to suggest in your earlier commentary that what Francis has put out here makes him open minded on this topic. He has mostly anti Danquah Nkrumaist sources.
You will never find me hailing any political leader without some reservation as is being done here. When something is wrong, we should be bold to say so. Incarcerating Danquah and other oppostion leaders without trial was wrong and I believe this precipated to the downfall of Nkrumah. I admit, however, that he did good things for Ghana.
francis kwarteng 9 years ago

Kwadwo,

How are you?

Did you bother to find to find out how many times I sourced from Dr. Kwame Botwe-Asamoah out of the numerous sources I used for this piece? Did you also bother to find out who Dr. Botwe-Asamoah also ...
read full comment

Kwadwo,

How are you?

Did you bother to find to find out how many times I sourced from Dr. Kwame Botwe-Asamoah out of the numerous sources I used for this piece? Did you also bother to find out who Dr. Botwe-Asamoah also sourced from?

And by saying "sourced from Dr. Kwame Botwe-Asamoah," are yoy implying that his [Dr. Botwe-Asamoah] has been making up his writeups? If that is your position, what alternative sources do you have challenging Dr. Botwe-Asamoah's work?

Then again, could you tell--give us reasons---us which of the sources I used are pro-Nkrumah and which pro-Danquah? And give us your sources identifying which cited author is pro-Danquah and which pro-Nkrumah?

And do you know Dr. David Owusu-Ansah, one of my sources, is pro-Danquah/UP? Check that out (and all the other sources I cited in this work) and leave Paul alone.

Kwadwo, tell us your version of events using pro-Danquah sources to critique this piece.

Thanks.
Koo Boy 9 years ago

Explain to the whole world why the people in Akyem Abuakwa, specifically Abuakwa Central, did not vote for him in 1954 and 1956. Did't Danquah also lose vote in Kyebi itself? Did you read the article with your chest. Danquah ...
read full comment

Explain to the whole world why the people in Akyem Abuakwa, specifically Abuakwa Central, did not vote for him in 1954 and 1956. Did't Danquah also lose vote in Kyebi itself? Did you read the article with your chest. Danquah was a REJECT, period.
KAS 9 years ago

What the heck is this cacophony? Academic gymnastics will not resurrect Danquah and Nkrumah to come and explain their deeds and misdeeds. So far as I am concerned, the pioneers came to do their lot and are gone. What part are ...
read full comment

What the heck is this cacophony? Academic gymnastics will not resurrect Danquah and Nkrumah to come and explain their deeds and misdeeds. So far as I am concerned, the pioneers came to do their lot and are gone. What part are we playing during our own lifetime, rather than wasting precious time brooding over what a dead person did or did not do?
Asare Bediako 9 years ago

Did you read the article, which was a response to the witless celebration of the death and tribute to the tribalist, terrorist-CIA Danquah?

Did you read the article, which was a response to the witless celebration of the death and tribute to the tribalist, terrorist-CIA Danquah?
KKO 9 years ago

You state:
“It should, however, be emphasized that though Danquah’s name was not specifically mentioned during Obetsebi-Lamptey’s high treason trial, it was known that Danquah met with Obetsebi-Lamptey during his recr ...
read full comment

You state:
“It should, however, be emphasized that though Danquah’s name was not specifically mentioned during Obetsebi-Lamptey’s high treason trial, it was known that Danquah met with Obetsebi-Lamptey during his recruitment activities. Similarly, barely three months after the S.G. Antor-led hatched armed rebellion had been quashed by the Ghanaian army, another group secretly masterminded by Obetsebi-Lamptey called the Ga-Shifimo Kpee, swore oaths “against ‘strangers,’ including Nkrumah who was accused of encumbering a Ga Constituency seat.’”

So if Danquah’s name was NOT SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED DURING OBETSEBI-LAMPTEY’S HIGH TREASON TRIAL, and as far as the records show, Danquah’s name was never ever mentioned in any treason or bombing trial, for that matter (Mama Tula’s 'Big, Big Men' were all CPP), how does Danquah become a bomb-thrower and terrorist? Is it a question of “guilty by association?” In that case shouldn’t everyone who knew or associated with Obetsebi-Lamptey be a terrorist and bomb-thrower?

Akwasi Prempeh writes:
“Danquah was the “legal adviser (February 1947) for the Ex-Servicemen's Union. Throughout January [1948], Nkrumah and Danquah addressed a number of meetings in towns in the Colony,
including a mass rally at the Palladium Cinema in Accra on 20 February arranged by the Ex-Servicemen's Union. Danquah took the chair at this meeting. He, Nkrumah, Ako Adjei, Ben Tamakloe and F. E. Laryea (secretary and executive member of the Ex-Servicemen's Union) spoke to the mass audience of 9000 which included many more than ex-servicemen. The ex-servicemen were to march in procession and present their petition to the government on Monday, the 23rd. The following day it was postponed to the 28th. In the meantime, Danquah travelled to Kibi, his home town in Akim Abuakwa, where farmers were in an excitable mood,23 and attended a meeting of the Akim Abuakwa Farmers' Union. On Friday the 27th, a second mass rally was held at the Palladium in Accra where Danquah, Akufo Addo, William Ofori Atta, Obetsibi Lamptey-all Convention members-addressed the meeting; and the ex-servicemen
assembled the following day at I p.m. on the old polo ground.”

“Danquah, Quist-Therson, Ofori Atta left Accra at 7.30 a.m. that same Saturday, 28 February, for Saltpond. By four o'clock in the afternoon the procession of ex-servicemen in Accra had left its authorized route, moved along Christiansborg Road to the castle crossroads, clashed with the
police, and two members of the crowd were killed when the European Superintendent of Police opened fire. The same afternoon, looting began in the commercial quarter of Accra: Kingsway Chemists were broken into; someone found a way into W. Bartholomew & Co. with a piece of scantling; then the Kingsway Liquor Store was broached, drink was passed over the wall into Ussher Fort prison, and the crowd battered down the gate to let the prisoners out.”

Does this read like an elitist who found ordinary Ghanaians so abhorrent that he wouldn’t relate to them in any shape or form?

As the educated “elite” of the Ghana of the twenty-first century, whatever we write or say today will be read by generations unborn. That is why we have to be factual, honest and principled.

Kwesi Atta Sekyi’s article was very conciliatory and contained facts that a lot of Ghanaians of a certain age could identify with. He also expressed sentiments that a lot of Ghanaians of that generation will agree with. There is a certain section of the CPP that seems very unprincipled and it is exactly the reason why the CPP and its numerous appendages consistently garner less than 5% of the total votes in Ghanaian elections.

When Kwame Nkrumah arrived on the shores of Ghana, he learnt very quickly that the mass of the people, including the illiterate folks in the rural areas, could relate to the word “Convention”, as the party for self-government, so he used the UGCC for his own ends and quickly latched on to the word for his party. Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, an Nkrumaist, did the same thing in 2012.

A lot of Nkrumaists - Kojo Tsikata and his cousins, the Ahwois, PV Obeng, Okaidja Adamafio, Kofi Djin, Ebo Tawia, Kwesi Pratt, Aanaa Enin, Mohammed Abdallah, Kwame Saarah-Mensah, Mumuni Bawumia, Amalenmah, Atta Mills (a product of the Ideological Institute), Arkaah - and a host of them realised that they could make their personal fortunes by hitching on to Jerry Rawlings’s NDC thieving train. As far as they were concerned, “what was, Ghana? What was CPP” They sat and grinned from ear to ear when Jerry Rawlings announced that “The only thing Kwame Nkrumah gave to Ghana was a flag and a national anthem!” Total lack of principles and that is what a lot of you continue to display!
Koo Boy 9 years ago

Was Danquah a reject by his own Akyem people, triblist, secessionist, anti-party politics and terrorist? Please answer these questions by writing a rebut to Kwarteng's article, from credible resources. A disappointed, shamed- ...
read full comment

Was Danquah a reject by his own Akyem people, triblist, secessionist, anti-party politics and terrorist? Please answer these questions by writing a rebut to Kwarteng's article, from credible resources. A disappointed, shamed-faced Danquah-Busia apologist!
KKO 9 years ago

I have given you real life examples of how unprincipled you lot are. What else do you need?

I have given you real life examples of how unprincipled you lot are. What else do you need?
Paul 9 years ago

KKO, is this the only item you could pick from the whole article? Why don't you analyse all the evidence presented instead of this rather predictable 'single-item' focus of all your arguments?

Perhaps you would care to cri ...
read full comment

KKO, is this the only item you could pick from the whole article? Why don't you analyse all the evidence presented instead of this rather predictable 'single-item' focus of all your arguments?

Perhaps you would care to critically explore the underlying reasons for the split from UGCC to CPP. Try doing an objective analysis of that for us to also see your own perspective. You can never compare Nkrumah's split with the UGCC with Konadu Rawling's unpopular, ill-advised and politically naive attempt to be 'smart' by positioning herself for the future (knowing there was no way he could win against an incumbent president which Danquah never was at the time). Furthermore I believe Konadu did what she did because she was privy to information that made her think if she won a reasonable percentage of votes (as a losing candidate), then when the time came, she would be in the best position to argue for serious consideration. Hers was a gamble which failed spectacularly.

Nkrumah never gambled when it became clear that UGCC's political agenda was contrary to his, and to the nation's mood at the time. How can you, an intellectual seek to make such cheap and weak comparisons of such a serious matter?
KKO 9 years ago

Paul,
I read through Kwarteng's article alright. Calling someone who cannot defend himself a terrorist, bomb-thrower and all that, without any basis whatsoever, as he himself pointed out, is a very serious matter.

There ...
read full comment

Paul,
I read through Kwarteng's article alright. Calling someone who cannot defend himself a terrorist, bomb-thrower and all that, without any basis whatsoever, as he himself pointed out, is a very serious matter.

There is something called natural justice. I lived through the late 1950s and early 1960s. You cannot make unfounded allegations against a person who cannot defend himself especially when you know from your heart of hearts that the allegations are totally false. The whole of the article is premised on the facts that a) Danquah is a terrorist b) Danquah was an elitist who did not want to have anything to do with ordinary people, and c) Danquah was unpatriotic.

These false notions have run right through Kwarteng's articles. Kwesi Atta Sekyi presented a conciliatory view of the whole Danquah-Nkrumah saga. Others, including KE Antobam have made recent attempts, But people like Kwarteng continue to make these wild and unfounded allegations.

What was the great difference between Kwame Nkrumah's position and the UGCC when, according to the Watson Commission which they all bought into, according to which Ghana would have been independent in 1958 at the latest?

Already in a government Secondary School from 1962, I know exactly what happened in Ghana after independence. If I want to learn the history of Ghana, Asmoah Botwe is the last person I would consult!
KKO 9 years ago

Correction, "Danquah was a terrorist.... "

Correction, "Danquah was a terrorist.... "
MARCUS AMPADU 9 years ago

Your article is very well researched, and you need to be commended on that. However, I am on the side of Prof. Kwesi Atta Sakyi conciliatory suggestion that we should let sleeping dogs lie, and desist from rehashing the animo ...
read full comment

Your article is very well researched, and you need to be commended on that. However, I am on the side of Prof. Kwesi Atta Sakyi conciliatory suggestion that we should let sleeping dogs lie, and desist from rehashing the animosity between Nkrumahists and Danquahists: let bygones be bygones, in the name of crafting a more 21st. century ecosystemic sustainable and technological Ghana.

For this to happen, we have to arrive at an unconditional Truth and Reconciliation Getogether.
Kwadwo 9 years ago

It is clear most don't hold prisoners on this subject so expect this to go every political season. It has become a gladiator sport. Eventually the saturation point will be reached and people will get tired of writing and comm ...
read full comment

It is clear most don't hold prisoners on this subject so expect this to go every political season. It has become a gladiator sport. Eventually the saturation point will be reached and people will get tired of writing and commenting on it. Then we will move on to the usual tribal politics.
MARCUS AMPADU 9 years ago

Obarima Kwadwo, minuah honestly you don't make sense at all. Come again.

Obarima Kwadwo, minuah honestly you don't make sense at all. Come again.
Kwadwo 9 years ago

You suggested that both sides bury the proverbial hatchet and look towards the future. My response was that don't count on it because there appears to be no middle ground on this Nkrumah Danquah debate. It is a carpet bombing ...
read full comment

You suggested that both sides bury the proverbial hatchet and look towards the future. My response was that don't count on it because there appears to be no middle ground on this Nkrumah Danquah debate. It is a carpet bombing affair. Eventually we will get tired of it and direct our attention to tribal politics as the election approaches. Hope I caught my drift.
Yakubu Tali jr 9 years ago

Danquah died like a cockroach bcos he was a terrorist

Danquah died like a cockroach bcos he was a terrorist
hardcore 9 years ago

those clown heads insulting Kwarteng should get a little education, education based on commonsense not education based on shoe shine and dog chain selling. U are not qualify to even be Kwarteng 's toilet cleaner, fools

those clown heads insulting Kwarteng should get a little education, education based on commonsense not education based on shoe shine and dog chain selling. U are not qualify to even be Kwarteng 's toilet cleaner, fools
Botha 9 years ago

U are not qualify and you think you are more educated than a dog chain seller.

U are not qualify and you think you are more educated than a dog chain seller.
tiger shark 9 years ago

Danquah has been since Long dead so what is the use of celebrating him and trying to impose on ghanaians things about danquah which is nothing but tall tales.the man danquah had nothing to do with Ghana.he existed during Gold ...
read full comment

Danquah has been since Long dead so what is the use of celebrating him and trying to impose on ghanaians things about danquah which is nothing but tall tales.the man danquah had nothing to do with Ghana.he existed during Gold coast time and had no influence on politics of gjana which Dates back to march 1957,Danquah and his Up gang contributed nothing to influence Ghana.In politics danquah was so short sighted he couldnt see beyond abuakwa.
hardcore 9 years ago

Adjoa wangara, u see brains like yours are the problems facing us in Ghana, get a little commonsense, sorry the grasscutter shit soup u were fed in your childhood really affected your brain cells, Kwarteng is better than you ...
read full comment

Adjoa wangara, u see brains like yours are the problems facing us in Ghana, get a little commonsense, sorry the grasscutter shit soup u were fed in your childhood really affected your brain cells, Kwarteng is better than your illiterate and backward family
Theo 9 years ago

What was Kwarteng from Aduman in Ashanti region fed, or Kwarteng is another Trokosi incestuous daughter fucker using Akan name?

What was Kwarteng from Aduman in Ashanti region fed, or Kwarteng is another Trokosi incestuous daughter fucker using Akan name?
hardcore 9 years ago

tell me never made mistakes before, after all my message was understood, grass cutter shit eating Botha, skin pain U clown head

tell me never made mistakes before, after all my message was understood, grass cutter shit eating Botha, skin pain U clown head
INXS 9 years ago

Perhaps you should stop calling him a Prof. I don't remember his saying that he is one.

I still maintain that you're going too hard against him (Sakyi). His "tribute" was a bit lightweight and I don't think he intended it ...
read full comment

Perhaps you should stop calling him a Prof. I don't remember his saying that he is one.

I still maintain that you're going too hard against him (Sakyi). His "tribute" was a bit lightweight and I don't think he intended it as an "academic" exercise. I guessed he just wrote it from memory i.e. without reference to any sources. Perhaps that is why he was later calling for a cessation of "hostilities", something some of us don't agree with mainly because the whole discussion can be a great learning exercise to many of us.

Your "tribute", unlike Sakyi's, is based mainly on your extensive reading of the available material. So it is more fact-based than Sakyi's. I don't think there is anybody on this forum who has read the source material as extensively and closely as you have. Even though it is difficult to be a completely impartial observer or reader of history, many people on this forum will benefit from the facts you have dug up, no matter how you present them. And this is a service to those who are really interested in our history.

And as I never fail to say, just keep the pieces short. Most of your readers here will appreciate that a lot.

Oh, btw, I've just started reading Obed Asamoah's book. It's huge and since I am not a super fast reader like you (lol) it should take me some days. It's early days but I think it's very readable, anyway. The language is very simple but I have a feeling he didn't have a good editor...

Thanks
francis kwarteng 9 years ago

INXS,

How are you?

Yes Prof. Kwesi Atta Sakyi is a professor.

He's a professor in the Zambia Centre for Accountancy Studies (ZCAS). He's also a very, very good friend.

You should ask him for additional info.

T ...
read full comment

INXS,

How are you?

Yes Prof. Kwesi Atta Sakyi is a professor.

He's a professor in the Zambia Centre for Accountancy Studies (ZCAS). He's also a very, very good friend.

You should ask him for additional info.

Thanks.

RE: Doyen of Ghana Politics - J. B. Danquah, A Tribute Part 2

Read Comments .st0{display:none;fill:#14BDD3;} .st1{display:none;} .st2{display:inline;fill:#FC0F0F;} .st3{display:inline;fill:#FFFFFF;} .st4{display:inline;fill:none;stroke:#000000;stroke-width:6;stroke-miterlimit:10;} Comments (62)

Read Comments Comments (62)