A historic literary commemorative compendium of statements honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Joseph Boakye Danquah will be unveiled at the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church, Kyebi, during the 60th-anniversary remembrance service on Sunday, 9th March 2025.
The J.B. Danquah 60th Anniversary Commemorative Compendium, a meticulously curated collection of celebratory statements, parliamentary statements, scholarly reflections, and historical records, will be officially launched, bringing together some of Ghana’s finest minds across politics, academia, and traditional leadership.
Published under the auspices of the current Twafohene of Akyem Abuakwa, Okatakyie Boakye Danquah Ababio, privately known as Mr. Isaac Emmil Osei-Bonsu, a distinguished legal practitioner and direct successor to Dr. Danquah as Twafohene, the compendium offers a definitive examination of Dr. Danquah’s towering influence on Ghana’s democratic evolution, constitutional development, and intellectual discourse.
A Monumental Collection of Timeless Tributes
This landmark publication captures a wealth of tributes from some of the most distinguished figures in Ghanaian and African history, including former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and former President Nnamdi Azikiwe of Nigeria, both of whom offered glowing reflections on Dr. Danquah’s role as a pioneer of modern Ghanaian democracy and an African nationalist of remarkable stature.
In a demonstration of the cross-party reverence for Dr. Danquah’s contributions, the compendium also documents a tall list of tributes from Members of Parliament over the years, capturing statements delivered on the floor of Parliament from both the Majority and Minority benches.
The compilation of 60 statements in total—symbolically marking the 60th anniversary of his passing—features contributions from Rt. Hon. Alban S.K. Bagbin, the current Speaker of Parliament during his days as MP for the good people of Nadowli-Kaleo; Dr. Benjamin Kunbuor, former Majority Leader; Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, former Minority Leader; Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu; and Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the current Minority Leader.
The rest are Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, former Speaker of Parliament; Hon. Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, the former Majority Leader, Hon. Samuel Atta Akyea, Hon. Joe Gharety, Hon. Isaac Osei and many others who have over the years paid homage to Dr. Danquah.
The book captures the bipartisan acknowledgment of his contributions, showing that his intellectual legacy, political advocacy, and legal battles transcend party lines and remain a cornerstone of Ghana’s constitutional and democratic architecture.
The compendium also features excerpts from two historic memorial lectures organized by the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences that have shaped discourse on Dr. Danquah’s contributions to Ghana’s legal and political thought.
These include excerpts from Joe Appiah’s statement delivered at the 7th series of the J.B. Danquah Memorial Lectures, a speech widely regarded as one of the most powerful orations on Danquah’s legacy, and excerpts from the J.B. Danquah Memorial Lecture delivered by Prof. Justice A.K.P. Kludze, a revered legal scholar whose reflections further illuminate the jurisprudential significance of Danquah’s advocacy for human rights, the rule of law, and constitutional democracy.
Dr. J.B. Danquah was not only a political icon but also a revered son of Okyeman as a chief, and the compendium reflects the traditional reverence for his legacy. It captures glowing statements from some of Ghana’s foremost traditional rulers, including HRM Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, the Okyenhene; Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo, the Okuapehene; Barima Yaw Kodie Oppong, Manwerehene of Akyem Abuakwa; and the Amantomiensa Hene, a custodian of Okyeman’s security and tradition.
These traditional leaders and the others who will be unveiled at the event underscore Danquah’s deep-rooted ties to the chieftaincy institution, his role in preserving Akan customary law, and the profound respect he commanded within Okyeman as both a scholar and a statesman.
Beyond individual reflections, the book also includes contributions from prestigious institutions such as: The New Patriotic Party, The Ghana Bar Association, The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, The Danquah Institute, The Africa Leadership & Policy for Humanitarian Action (ALPHA) amongst others.
These institutions, renowned for their role in legal, political, policy and academic discourse, provide in-depth analyses of Dr. Danquah’s enduring impact on Ghana’s constitutional development, democracy, and governance
A Gathering of Ghana’s Finest Minds
The launch event on 9th March at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church, Kyebi, is expected to be a grand occasion, bringing together academics, politicians, legal luminaries, traditional rulers, the clergy and media professionals. The presence of these esteemed individuals will buttress the intellectual and political significance of the compendium, highlighting the enduring relevance of Dr. Danquah’s contributions to Ghana’s governance, rule of law, and national identity.
Preserving a Legacy for Generations
For six decades, Dr. J.B. Danquah’s vision, intellect, and sacrifices have continued to shape Ghana’s democratic and constitutional landscape. His unrelenting advocacy for individual freedoms, rule of law, and accountable governance set the stage for the democratic institutions that Ghana and much of Africa enjoy today.
The J.B. Danquah 60th Anniversary Commemorative Compendium is a monumental publication that ensures his contributions are not only remembered but studied, debated, and upheld by generations to come.
Gideon Kwasi Annor
