Yaw Anokye Frimpong, a historian and lawyer, has given insights into why infrastructure of the University of Ghana were modelled with Japanese architectural adaptations.
According to him, the choice of architecture was informed by the university’s proximity to the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
The style of architecture for the notable tertiary institution came up while he was speaking to the claim by NPP stalwarts Prof Aaron Mike Oquaye and the late Prof Adu Boahen that Joseph Boakye Danquah built the University of Ghana.
Addressing what he termed as a distortion in history on Onua TV’s “Maakye,” on March 10, 2025, he recounted events that led to the establishment of the University of Ghana.
He explained that the University College of Gold Coast was the operational tertiary institution at the time. He added that the institution remained so until July 1, 1960, when Ghana became a republic.
“If Nkrumah had not declared us a republic on July 1,1960, the charter and supporting documents needed to elevate the University College of the Gold Coast to an autonomous university would have hit a snug,” he said.
He cited a resistance from the then governor, Lord Listowel, as the main challenge.
“The University of Ghana was formally opened in 1961 after Kwame Nkrumah became president and presented the charter before Parliament to be approved. So, it’s Nkrumah who built the University of Ghana.
“In fact, after he acquired the land from Ga chiefs to build the University of Ghana. He was even advised against tall buildings because of the location of the University of Ghana,” he said.
He was told to ensure the buildings were short, since it was close to the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
“He, therefore, adopted the Japanese architecture. which is short, to avoid compromising the air space which served as the channel for flights,” he said.
VPO/AE
Meanwhile, catch the first in the series of our special episodes on Forgotten Forts on People and Places on GhanaWeb TV below. This episode focuses on Fort Amsterdam at Abandze: