Dean of UPSA Law School, Professor Ernest Kofi Abotsi
The Dean of the University of Professional Studies Law School, Professor Ernest Kofi Abotsi, has said that Ghana’s difficulty in confronting and reconciling its differences in historical narratives contributes to its culture of deceit and dishonesty.
He said the historical dishonesty could be traced back to the pre-independence times, where different factions within the nationalist movement sought to appropriate the narrative of independence to legitimise their own political positions.
In a post on his official X page, Professor Abotsi said “Contesting Nkrumah, JB Danquah, and Rawlings’ legacy to Ghana’s history….! Ghana’s lack of objective history reflects on our self-deceit and dishonesty and our pre-induced greed and historical appropriation which remains our bane today.”
He made the remark with regard to the recent misinformation, disagreement and misunderstanding that have characterised the legacies of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, JB Danquah and Jerry John Rawlings, among some politicians and the general populace.
Professor Abotsi also noted that Ghana’s failure to develop an objective, inclusive, and honest historical narrative has left it with an identity crisis, where the past continues to haunt the present.
“Rather than learning from the lessons of history, many political actors use it to perpetuate their own agendas, at times to the detriment of the nation,” he added.
Few weeks ago, the Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, on the floor of Parliament, asserted that JB Danquah was not worth celebrating because scholars have labelled him a traitor and a CIA agent who leaked state secrets.
His comment sparked a lot of denates, prompting the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council to petition the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to investigate the matter and demand an apology and retraction from the MP.
Read his post below:
Contesting Nkrumah, JB Danquah, & Rawlings’ legacy to Ghana’s history….! Ghana’s lack of objective history reflects on our self-deceit & dishonesty & our pre-indece greed & historical appropriation which remains our bane today
— Prof. E. Kofi Abotsi (@ProfAbotsi) March 7, 2025
VA/AE
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