The Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, Hon. Samuel Atta Akyea has called for a befitting burial and final funeral rites for Dr. J. B. Danquah, fifty – five (55) years after passing on to glory.
He regretted that, despite the meaningful and touching contributions made by J.B in the fight for freedom and establishment of the State of Ghana, he has not been given the deserved status quo 55 years down the line after his death. He subsequently called for a proper recognition of his role, befitting burial and funeral rites.
Hon., Atta Akyea made this known through a touching statement he made on the floor of Parliament on February 4, 2020, which marked the 55th anniversary of JB’s demise. This statement caught on well with MPs from the two sides, who made passionate contributions towards it.
The statement, though short, went straight to the point yet encomprising and emotional as the mover, a relative of the Late JB was in black. “I am not making this statement because I am a relative, but as a Ghanaian with high sense of history to dignify those who have done so well in the history of Ghana. If JB were from any other tribe, I would have made the same contribution!”, he said passionately, later in an interview, stressing that it was devoid of propaganda, but factual in presentation, hence the unison with which members made their contributions.
“Rt. Hon Speaker, today marks the 55th anniversary of the demise of Dr. Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah at Nsawam Prison. Mr. Speaker, the pith of this statement will be the power and example of his political sacrifice. With this in mind, I will let history speak rather than sentiments and vile propaganda. Mr. Speaker, while JB, as he was affectionately called, was languishing in a condemned cell on the basis of President Nkrumah’s pernicious Preventive Detention Act (PDA) passed by Parliament in 1958, he appealed to the conscience of President Nkrumah in a prison letter dated 9th May, 1964, for his immediate release”, the statement rolled.
Quoting relevant excerpts from the letter, Hon. Atta Akyea pointed out that this letter “Takes us right into the soul of JB”. He expressed regret that this primordial cry for freedom could not minister to Ghana’s independence leader (Nkrumah), who was touting it all over the place that Ghana’s independence was meaningful unless it was linked up with the total liberation of Africa.
“I surmise that Dr. JB Danquah was pouring water on stone. Ghana’s opposition leader breathed his last breath at 6:30am on that fateful day, February 4, 1965according to the medical records”, he bemoaned.
While recollecting that part of the Ghana national anthem, “And help us to resist oppressor’s rule with all our will and might for ever more”, which he referred to as a prayer to the Almighty God, he opined that Ghana’s current freedom was largely purchased with the innocent blood of the Dhoyen of Gold Coast- politics, the inimitable Dr. Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah, whose final funeral rites are still outstanding 55 years down the line.
“Let this parliament initiate the programme to give this world class legislator a befitting and final send-off! “ Hon. Atta Akyea exclaimed, stressing that this was the least MPs could do to the memory and honour Ghana’s sacrificial lamb.
MP after MP in their contributions eulogized that great late statesman describing his situation – arrest, imprisonment and demise as most unfortunate. Moreso, when they considered the fact that the legislation that led to his arrest, detention and subsequent demise was passed by Parliament. They vowed that never again should such obnoxious legislation (law) be carried out in Parliament.
On his part, Hon. Osei Kyei – Mensah Bonsu, Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs pointed out that President Nkrumah’s human rights record were terrible. He could not comprehend how Parliament should carry out such an obnoxious law to lead someone to his untimely death. He recalled how, but for Hon. A.S.K Bagbin, Parliament could have passed a similar law about eight years ago when the Attorney – General then insisted that law / legislation should be a shared responsibility between Parliament and the President. This, he explained meant that the President could sit in his bed room and pen his signature to a law to make it take force. While questioning the role of Parliamentarians in such cases, he referred to such laws, especially Nkrumah’s Preventive Detention Act (PDA) as unconscionable, stressing that never again should such a thing happen in the country. He was however quick to point out that the 1992 constitution, which is an improvement upon the previous ones from the 1960s, was clear on such issues pertaining to freedom.
The Minority Leader, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, sharing the same position with his colleague, described the incident as unfortunate. He could not contemplate how J.B should lose his life in the struggle for freedom for Ghana, arguing that never again should such a thing happen in the country.
Source: S. O. Ankamah