Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin commended Dr. Joseph Boakye Danquah at a celebration marking the 60th anniversary of his death on March 9, 2025. He asserted that Ghana’s current democracy results from Danquah’s vision and sacrifices. Afenyo-Markin highlighted Danquah’s multifaceted contributions as a scholar, statesman, and advocate for constitutional reforms, emphasizing his enduring legacy in Ghana’s development.
Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader in Parliament, has praised Dr. Joseph Boakye Danquah’s vital contributions to Ghana’s development during an event commemorating the 60th anniversary of Danquah’s death on March 9, 2025. He stated that the democracy currently enjoyed in Ghana stems from Danquah’s visionary efforts and noted that Danquah, a key figure in the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), made the ultimate sacrifice for his love for the nation.
He reflected, “Today, we gather in solemn remembrance and profound reflection as we mark sixty (60) years since the passing of one of Ghana’s most remarkable patriots, Dr. Joseph Boakye Danquah, who endured the ultimate sacrifice for his love for his country and the freedom of her people.” Afenyo-Markin described Danquah’s legacy as integral to Ghana’s political, intellectual, and constitutional evolution, emphasizing that he was not only a scholar and politician but also a poet and playwright committed to Ghana’s history and values.
Furthermore, Afenyo-Markin noted that the freedoms enshrined in the 1992 Constitution, including democratic accountability and free expression, are a direct result of Danquah’s relentless advocacy. He stated, “Indeed, the principles of democratic accountability, free enterprise, free expression, and the rule of law… are the very ones he fought for from the 1920s and died for in 1965.” This, he asserted, reflects Danquah’s foresight and the collective ideals of those who shared his vision.
Dr. Joseph Boakye Danquah was born in December 1895 in Bempong and passed away on February 4, 1965, in Nsawam. As a pivotal member of the Ghanaian Nationalist Politicians, he opposed Kwame Nkrumah and strived for self-governance in Ghana. After studying law and philosophy in London, he returned to the Gold Coast in 1927, established a law practice, and founded the “Times of West Africa” newspaper.
Throughout the early 1940s, Danquah advocated for constitutional reforms, becoming a member of the Legislative Council in 1946 and helping to establish the UGCC. Following brief imprisonment in 1948, he became a legislative assembly member in 1951, although he faced electoral defeats subsequently. In 1960, he ran for president against Nkrumah but garnered only 10% of the vote and was imprisoned under the Preventive Detention Act before his death. Danquah authored significant works like “Gold Coast: Akan Laws and Customs and the Akim Abuakwa Constitution” (1928) and “The Akan Doctrine of God” (1944).
The legacy of Dr. Joseph Boakye Danquah remains deeply embedded in Ghana’s political and constitutional landscape. His vision and sacrifices paved the way for the democratic freedoms that Ghanaians enjoy today. The commemorative events highlight the importance of understanding and appreciating the historical contributions of figures like Danquah to the nation’s development.
Original Source: www.ghanaweb.com
