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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WHAT AT ALL SHOWS IN THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH THAT HE IS AGITATING NAMING, REPEAT NAMING, THE UG AFTER JB DANQUAH? ABLAKWA IS ILLITERATE AND HE SHOULD BE FORGIVING FOR THAT. ANOKWASEM SE MMIRE AFIFI WO BIN MU.
This F0O0L called Okudzato got Water in his Brains. He always sounds FO0OLISH. I wonder how he ended up at Ghana Parliament. Sad for the Nation Ghana to have Coconut-Heads as this Okudzato as member.
What i found it so annoying is that everything NPP does these small boys have something to complain about. Can't we change what the whites slave master did and rename it after ourselves. Question does all these locations they have named after Pres. Fiifi Mills deserve it. If yes then our old political figures needs to be emulated.
What wrong with this boy? I heard oko vandapoye proposing NDC willingness to name UG after Atta Mills, however I don't think naming the school after RAWLINGS will generate any yelling but if it has anything to do with Nana Ado then is problem. What will u guys do if the President decide to name the school after anyone of his choice? Small time for u guys." Kono ona"
The rodent tooth know it all. Oneday he will all on his own dagger. This ablakea guy
Water melon head warning the president. Anokwa s3 mmire afifi wo bin mu.
'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'. With the above statement made by Samuel Okudzeto, can he name just one person who was with organizations mentioned?