Former president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
Former President Nana Akufo-Addo has urged Ghanaians to uphold the principles of democracy, using the life and struggles of Dr. J.B. Danquah as a reminder of the sacrifices made for the nation’s freedom.
Speaking at the Presbyterian Church, Ebenezer Congregation in Kyebi, to mark the 60th anniversary of Danquah’s death, Akufo-Addo called for an end to persistent attempts to erase the late statesman’s contributions to Ghana’s political history.
“The memory of Danquah demands that we remain vigilant, ensuring that democracy in Ghana is not just a rhetorical idea but a lived reality,” Akufo-Addo stated, emphasizing the need for active citizenship in preserving democratic values.
He lamented that Danquah’s legacy remains a subject of controversy even decades after his passing.
“Yet, despite Dr. Danquah’s contributions to the development of Ghana, his name continues to elicit needless controversy in death, just as it did in life,” he said.
“We vividly recall the inhumane conditions imposed by Kwame Nkrumah’s CPP government regarding the conduct of his burial in 1965, after his cruel death in solitary confinement in the dungeons of Nsawam Prison,” he added.
Akufo-Addo expressed disappointment over the way some members of society continue to tarnish Danquah’s name.
“Even 60 years after his death, we remain witnesses to the vicious name-calling that accompanies any mention of him by individuals who should otherwise be responsible members of society,” he remarked.
He urged Ghanaians to take inspiration from Danquah’s resilience, recalling how the late scholar and politician maintained his composure even in the face of persecution.