The University of Ghana, Legon, has been embroiled in a contentious debate for several months, ignited by President Nana Akufo-Addo’s proposal to rename the institution in honor of Dr. J. B. Danquah.
The President argued that Dr. Danquah, a prominent post-colonial politician and a founding member of his political tradition, made invaluable contributions to the establishment of the university.
When asked if the historical records reflect the President’s account during an interview on JoyNews, Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Nana Aba Appiah Amfo told JoyNews that “all those who played a significant role to the establishment of the university have properly been acknowledged”.
She added: “What the president was advocating was a renaming of the university after him but that’s something which is really subject to huge debate.”
According to Prof Nana Aba Appiah, there are various ways in which the institution acknowledges people who have contributed to the establishment of the university.
With regards to J.B. Danquah, she said a major avenue on campus has been named in honour of him.
“We have a whole avenue named after JB Danquah that’s a major avenue in this university.”
The first female Vice-Chancellor of the University explained that the ongoing debate within the university community could have been resolved if the institution had proactively updated its historical records.
“You may or may not know that when the school was 50 years there was a history book that was outdoored and so the history of the university has been properly documented.
“But that was for 50 years and actually we are in the process of commissioning a team to update that and when we have our final program for the year we will be able to talk more about that,” Prof Appiah Amfo said.
She mentioned that there is already a team actively engaged in this effort, although they have yet to be officially introduced.
While not divulging the complete details of their work, the Vice Chancellor explained that the committee’s primary task involves reviewing and revising the documented history of the institution.
“There were attempts in the past to update the school’s history. One of the former Vice chancellors Professor Ayettey set up a team but really the ideas didn’t materialise, so at 75 years it’s the opportune time for us to revisit that matter and properly document all the major events, and other activities and also acknowledge the significant roles in the development and the history of the university.”
In August this year, during the 75th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service of the University of Ghana, President Akufo-Addo hinted at renaming the premier university after his uncle.
“Indeed, in many other jurisdictions where there is less heat in their politics and more attachment to the fact of historical record, it would not have been out of place to have this university named after him. Who knows, one day it may well happen,” he stated.
He said this after describing J.B. Danquah as the founder of the University of Ghana some five years ago when the university launched an endowment fund as part of its 70th anniversary celebration.
“It will be wholly appropriate and not at all far-fetched to describe Joseph Boakye Danquah as the founder of this university [the University of Ghana], a fact that, on the 75th anniversary of its existence, should be vividly recalled by all of us who are being and are the beneficiaries of his work,” he said.
But some sections of the public disagree with the president. Member of Parliament for Builsa South and a deputy ranking member on Parliament’s Education Committee, Dr. Clement Apaak, has expressed that the proposal to rename the University of Ghana after J.B. Danquah is both unnecessary and could foster division.