During the 75th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service of the University of Ghana, President Nana Akufo-Addo paid tribute to Joseph Boakye Danquah, a former presidential candidate in 1960, for his instrumental role in the founding of the prestigious institution.
The President expressed his belief that history would regard JB Danquah favorably for his tireless advocacy in creating the university.
President Akufo-Addo emphasized how Joseph Boakye Danquah’s unwavering commitment to Ghana’s need for a dedicated university led to the establishment of the University of Ghana.
He highlighted Danquah’s determination to challenge the British recommendation of a single university for West Africa, intended primarily for Nigeria. Instead, Danquah rallied the Ghanaian community to support the establishment of their own educational institution.
The President even hinted at the possibility of naming the University of Ghana after Joseph Boakye Danquah, given the profound historical significance of his contributions.
President Akufo-Addo shared, “Indeed, in many other jurisdictions where there is less heat in their politics and more attachment to the fact of historical record, it would not have been out of place to have this university named after him. Who knows, one day it may well happen.”
Commending the University of Ghana for achieving its diamond jubilee, President Akufo-Addo applauded the institution’s pivotal role in shaping the nation’s development.
He stated, “It will be wholly appropriate and not at all far-fetched to describe Joseph Boakye Danquah as the founder of this university, a fact that, on the 75th anniversary of its existence, should be vividly recalled by all of us who are being and are the beneficiaries of his work.”
This sentiment echoed his previous comments made five years earlier when the university initiated an endowment fund during its 70th-anniversary celebration.
President Akufo-Addo’s recognition of Joseph Boakye Danquah’s contributions underscores the profound impact of this historical figure on Ghana’s educational landscape and highlights the importance of celebrating such legacies.
