A remberance service has been held Sunday February 4,2024 at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church Hall in Kyebi in Eastern Region to mark the fifty-ninth anniversary of the passing of late Dr. Joseph Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah.
J.B Danquah, a statesman, pan-Africanist, author, poet, and human rights activist died under horrid circumstances in the Nsawam Medium Security Prison, detained on the orders of the Kwame Nkrumah-led CPP.
Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin recounted in a tribute read by Okyeman State Secretary D.M Ofori-Atta that, “Dr. J. B. Danquah was imprisoned under the Preventive Detention Act, an obnoxious law which anticipates and punish your future actions.Preventive Detention Act, an obnoxious law which anticipates and punish your future actions.”
He said ” Under the imprimatur orders of the CPP leadership, Dr. Danquah was arrested on the 8th January, 1964, admitted to the Nsawam prisons condemned cells, a cell which was not suitable for a man of his condition and age. The man who had high blood pressure and suffered asthma was put in a cell where he could neither stand nor walk, fed on gari, salt and water and endured other forms of inhuman treatment till the day he collapsed and died on 4th February, 1965″.
Okyenhene continued that “Even in his death Danquah was punished. The Nkrumah led CPP government decreed that the burial was to be held within 12 hours. His body was not to be publicly laid in state and there was to be no public mourning and crying.The District Commissioner received orders from Accra and a team of Officers and men from the Army and the Police were despatched to Kyebi to ensure compliance”
According to Okyenhene “for 59 years, Dr. Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah was denied a funeral rite, the most sacred of all rites of passagepassage”
Nonetheless, Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin called for forgiveness for Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and functionaries of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) for their inhumane treatment that led to the untimely death of Joseph Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah while in Prison.
“Time is the great healer of wounds; the functionaries of the Nkrumah-led CPP and their assigns can and should be forgiven,” Okyenhene urged.
Children of J.B. Danquah recounted their father’s tragic demise in Nsawam Medium Security Prison while in chains. They described how the persecution of their father negatively affected.
They rejected attempts to dent image of their late father as a traitor.
The Ghana Bar Association, Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the New Patriotic Party also paid tribute to the statesman, pan-Africanist, and human rights activist.
The Moderator of Presbyterian Church of Ghana Most Reverend Dr. Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye emphasized forgiveness and a commitment to J.B. Danquah’s principles, urging a renewed energy to fight against injustice ,corruption, illegal mining and the ills in society.
Present at the memorial service were President Akufo Addo, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Majority Leader Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, former speaker of Parliament Prof. Mike Oquaye, Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affair Stephen Asamoah Boateng,Finance Minister Ken Ofori -Atta, Eastern Regional Minister Seth Acheampong and host of other Ministers and government officialsofficials as well as Chiefs across the country.
Wreaths were laid on the grave of J.B. Danquah.
The memorial service aimed to honor the life and legacy of J.B. Danquah is part of activities to hold final funeral rite in accordance with Akyem Abuakwa customs and traditions which state that a final funeral rite for a chief or king can only be held after the enstoolment of a successor.
After 58 years of the stool remaining vacant, Dr. J. B Danquah’s successor, Okatakyie Ababio Boakye Dankwa II has been enstooled by the Okyeman council on the 16th of December, 2023 ,paving way for the performance of his final funeral rite expected to be held on the 10th of February, 2024.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
