Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori and the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Most Rev. Dr. Abraham Opare Kwakye, have urged the family of the late Dr. Joseph Boakye Danquah to let go of any contempt they have regarding the untimely death of their beloved.
Dr. J.B. Danquah, a Ghanaian politician, and statesman died in 1965 under controversial circumstances. Dr. Danquah was a member of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) and later a founding member of the United Party (UP).
On February 4, 1965, Dr. J.B. Danquah was arrested during the administration of President Kwame Nkrumah, who was leading the Convention People’s Party (CPP) government. He was accused of being involved in an alleged plot to overthrow the government. Dr. Danquah was detained at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison.
On the morning of February 4, 1965, Dr. J.B. Danquah was found dead in his prison cell. The official cause of death was initially reported as a heart attack, but many continue to be askance of his death.
Over the weekend, a remembrance service was held for JB Danquah at the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church of Ghana in Kyebi and in attendance were President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, Vice President, Mahamudu Bawumiah, Majority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Dan Kwaku Botwe, several Ministers of State and Members of Parliament.
In his speech, Most Rev. Dr. Abraham Opare Kwakye suggested that the family and friends should focus on promoting freedom, justice, and respect for traditional institutions, using Dr. J. B. Danquah’s ideals as a guide.
In a tribute, Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori recognized Dr. J. B. Danquah’s contributions to Okyeman, Akan cultural heritage, the country’s independence struggle, the defense of democracy, and the fight against authoritarianism and arbitrariness. These contributions, according to Okyenhene, hold a unique place in the history of Ghana.
He noted that JB Danquah went through so much trouble and even in death, he was being punished as he was not given a befitting burial.
“Under the imprimatur orders of the CPP leadership, Dr. Danquah was arrested on the 8th January, 1964, admitted to the Nsawam prisons condemned cells, a cell which was not suitable for a man of his condition and age. The man who had high blood pressure and suffered asthma was put in a cell where he could neither stand nor walk, fed on gari, salt and water and endured other forms of inhuman treatment till the day he collapsed and died on 4th February, 1965,” Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panie said.
He added, “The Nkrumah led CPP government decreed that the burial was to be held within 12 hours. His body was not to be publicly laid in state and there was to be no public mourning and crying.
“The District Commissioner received orders from Accra and a team of Officers and men from the Army and the Police were dispatched to Kyebi to ensure compliance. For 59 years, Dr. Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah was denied a funeral rite, the most sacred of all rites of passage.”
Nonetheless, he indicated that “as time is the great healer of wounds, the functionaries of the Nkrumah-led CPP and their assigns can and should be forgiven.”
Osagyefo described Dr. Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah as the epitome and embodiment of the respect of human dignity, the culture and traditions of all peoples and the love for freedom of all men.
‘May the vision of Dr. J. B. Danquah and the challenges of his times guide us all towards this goal of preserving and entrenching the culture of peacefulness, respect for personal freedom, and political pluralism enjoyed by the people of Ghana ‘ Okyehene said.