Member of Parliament for North Tongu in the Volta Region and a former deputy minister for Education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says there will be revolt if President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo dares rename the University of Ghana after his uncle, JB Danquah.
He says history would have been rewritten by the President.
Speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, he explained that a hall or faculty can be renamed after his uncle to recognize his contribution to the setting up of the university, but renaming it after him will be met with fierce resistance.
President Akufo-Addo told an audience at the launch of an Endowment Fund to commemorate the university’s 70th anniversary stated that: “It will be wholly appropriate and not at all far-fetched to describe Joseph Boakye Danquah as the founder of this University.”
In the President’s view, the British colonialists who built the university, were inspired by J.B. Danquah, because they initially intended to build for British West Africa, a single university in Nigeria.
“How felicitous was that decision and how greatly it has contributed to the growth of modern Ghana, it will be wholly appropriate and not at all far-fetched to describe Joseph Boakye Danquah as the founder of this University . . . the fact, which on the 70th anniversary of the university’s existence, should be vividly recalled that all of us are the beneficiaries of his work.”
Samuel Okudzeto indicated that credit cannot be taken away from the agitations of Gold Coasters between December 1945 and July 1946 at which period the Colonial Secretary in Accra was bombarded with petitions from such bodies as the Advisory Committee on Education, Achimota Council, the Standing Committee of the Joint Provincial Council of Chiefs, Asante Confederacy Council, Gold Coast Bar Association, Old Students Associations, Rodger Club, Accra; Hudson Club, Kumasi; and Gold Coast Teachers Union.
It must also be emphasised that the Asantehene played a very special role in this noble endeavour. It was the Asantehene who agreed with the Bradley Committee to have the first University sited in Accra with funds largely from cocoa farmers from the Asantehene’s territory. This was on condition that a second university will be considered for Kumasi later.
However, confronted with this history, it will be near impossible to hoodwink Ghanaians that Dr. JB Danquah is the founder of the University of Ghana. Even if successful, it will amount to intellectual dishonesty of the highest order.
He also added that he does not see how the current Vice Chancellor and the University Council will permit President Akufo-Addo to rename the University of Ghana JB Danquah University when the university’s own commissioned work does not support this latter day distortion of history.
"Like most alumni of the University of Ghana, I have confidence that President Akufo-Addo’s hegemonic maneuvering will not see the light of day, we will revolt against it," he reiterated.
"Clearly, seeing how far some Presidents may go in pleasing their uncles and other relations as they distort our history and rename monuments, it is time for this country to have an independent commission which will be the only legal entity with responsibility for naming and preserving national institutions, installations, assets and commemorative events."
"We can do far better for the great University of Ghana instead of contemplating a needless change of name," he added.
Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]
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When NPP was arguing that Ghana was not founded solely by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and that other people contributed to the process, and that we should have Founders' Day. NDC said NO, and argued that the one who scored the goal - Dr. Kwame Nkrumah - should be seen as the founder of Ghana. Today, does this same argument hold? or we should recognised all other people who contributed to the establishment of University of Ghana? God bless Ghana
Double standard people. You profess Nkrumah to be the founder of a whole nation without accepting the fact that people laid a very strong foundation to the lentil level b4 he came in with his youthful demo to help achieve independence. However, with UG you are coming out with the same analysis. Come on I don't agree to this renaming thing but you Ablakwa lack the moral justification to talk about the issue either. Hipo-crite thats who are. After all the prez did not say he is going to rename Legon (UG). We will all resist it but you man Ablakwa) keep quiet. Mo-r-on, f00000000l you.
Double standard people. You profess Nkrumah to be the founder of a whole nation without accepting the fact that people laid a very strong foundation to the lentil level b4 he came in with his youthful demo to help achieve independence. However, with UG you are coming out with the same analysis. Come on I don't agree to this renaming thing but you Ablakwa lack the moral justification to talk about the issue either. Hipo-crite thats who are. After all did not say he is going to rename Legon (UG). We will all resist it but you man keep quiet. Mo-r-on, f00000000l you.
PEACE FM ONLINE MUST LEARN TO BE SERIOUS.WHEN DID AKUFFO SAY HE WAS RE-NAMING THE UNIVERSITY? MISCHIEF MAKERS
I am sympathize r app for now,this will nt happen . The current name is more prestigious.They can build a hall or le tire complex and name after him.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa I love the way you put together your analysis. If a University cannot be named after a single individual because others contributed in its establishment, why then do you people talk ***barred word*** that Nkrumah is the founder of a whole nation (our Beloved Ghana), when by the time he came in people has already started agitating for independence.
You and your NDC 1gn0ramus should pls give us a brake. When and where did you empty heads heard the President Nana Addo said he was going to change the name of UG . stop paddling 1ies that will NOT made your incompetent, corrupt John Ford win any elections in Gh.
When and where did Akufo-Addo talk of renaming UG after J.B. Danquah? What the president said doesn't amount to that. I don't beliebe the president will ever attempt to do so. How I wish the president to clear the air!
Your days are numbered on that seat.. Forget 2020 old akyem mafia... NPP doesn't build anything, all they do is steal and collapse companies... The country is becoming like a jungle, armed robbery all over the place and you go round making yourself an officiating minister for projects you had no idea about..
seem they think Ghana is for akyem and a time to retaliate. akyem president, akyem finance minister, akyem CJ, akyem chairman of council of state, akyem IGP and akyem university?, tried to make akyem head of national house of chief had it not been the vision of togbe afede and now NPP national congress at akyem, eiii these people came for akyem not Ghana. seem they dont reason sometimes. you dare rename, it will be changed again. its sensible to build a whole private university if on JB Dankwah tomb we care not and name it JB university or library like done in the USA. this renaming must be nationally accepted not just renaming bcx you in power, what of when you finish ya 4 or 8 years, will bawumia still mantain it or alan change it, reason and lest think of GHANA rather to daily akyem akyem