TRIBUTE BY THE OKYENHENE HIS ROYAL MAJESTY OSAGYEFUO AMOATIA OFORI PANIN ON THE OCCASSON OF THE MEMORIAL SERVICE AS PART OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FUNERAL OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS JOSEPH KWAME KYERETWIE BOAKYE DANQUAH
EBENEZER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HALL, KYEBI, 4TH FEBUARY 2024
Fifty nine years today in the morning of 4th February, Dr. Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah, Statesman, Pan Africanist, Author, Poet and Human Rights Activist answered the eternal call, closing the curtains on the stage of the most arresting drama of Ghana’s politics and its most celebrated actor, who will forever belong to the ages.
The whole nation stood in grieve and shock at the untimely demise of one of the most treasured sons of Ghana in the Nsawam Medium Security Prison where he had been detained on the orders of the Kwame Nkrumah led Convention Peoples Party (CPP), under horrendous circumstances.
His contribution to the consolidation of Okyeman, Akan cultural heritage, the independence struggle of our country, the defence of democracy and the struggle against authoritarianism and arbitrariness has a unique place in the history of Ghana.
Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah considered himself a lifelong worthy servant of the Chieftaincy institution, and often described Nananom as natural and anointed rulers.
A protégé of his senior brother Okyenhene Sir Ofori-Atta, he was with Nananom at the Conference of Paramount Chiefs of the Eastern Province of the Gold Coast at the early age of 21 serving as State Secretary of Akyem Abuakwa where the foundation were laid for the establishment of the Joint Provincial Council where he led in the formulation of the Native Administration Ordinance of 1927.
He was part of several delegations with Nananom to the Colonial Office in England. Notably was the 1934 delegation which successfully persuaded the Colonial Administration to enlarge the Legislative Council and for persons other than Chiefs to be made members.
This far reaching reforms led to the introduction of popular franchise, for the first time in the Gold Coast, although restricted in some aspects by the Colonial Administration, it represented the most momentous victory in struggle against colonialism.
The impact J. B. Danquah made to the understanding and preservation of Akan culture, heritage and tradition can be seen in his cogitative rendition of a theoretic and scientific treatise of the customary institutions of the Akan people in his celebrated work , “AKAN LAWS AND CUSTOMS – AND THE AKYEM ABUAKWA CONSTITUTION ” published in London in 1928.
It is imperative to mention that Okyeman in recognition and appreciation of the sacrifices of Dr. J. B. Danquah created the important Twafo stool and enstooled him as Okyeman Twafohene.
Dr. J. B. Danquah has secured himself in history as the iconic chronicler and codifier of not only Akyem Abuakwa but also Akan custom, tradition and history.
In 2017, the Government and People of Ghana decided to honour the founding fathers noted in history as the “BIG SIX” of this nation by legislating that the 4th day of August should be observed every year as a national holiday.
August 4th 1947 at Saltpond was the day of the birth of the first political party in Ghana that pursued national independence as its core agenda of which J. B. Danquah, Paa Grant, R. S. Blay and other members of the “BIG SIX” who endured deprivation, arrest and imprisonment in the struggle for national sovereignty and dignity.
This earned him the accolade “THE DOYEN OF GHANA POLITICS”.
Dr. J. B. Danquah was imprisoned under the Preventive Detention Act, an obnoxious law which anticipates and punish your future actions.
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.
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.
For 59 years, Dr. Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah was denied a funeral rite, the most sacred of all rites of passage.
As TIME IS the great healer of wounds, the functionaries of the Nkrumah-led CPP and their assigns can and should be forgiven.
We need to look to a brighter future guided by a vision of hope, tolerance and reverence for the opinions, lives and dignity of all persons irrespective of their political views.
Dr. Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah is the epitome and embodiment of the respect of human dignity, the culture and traditions of all peoples and the love for freedom of all men.
This is the most endearing tribute to the memory of the man whose funeral was denied by men responsible for his demise, for which we have all gathered here today.
May the vision of Dr. J. B. Danquah and the challenges of his times guide us all towards this goal of preserving and entrenching the culture of peacefulness, respect for personal freedom, and political pluralism enjoyed by the people of Ghana.
May His Soul continue to find rest in the Bosom of our Lord.
OSAGYEFUO AMOATIA OFORI PANIN
OKYENHENE
25/01/24
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com
