Legacy Beyond Politics: Parliament Eulogies Dr. J.B. Danquah on 61st Anniversary of His Passing
In a rare moment of profound political consensus, Parliament ofon Wednesday, February 4, 2026, paused to observe the 61st anniversary of the passing of Dr. Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah.
The solemn occasion transformed the floor of the House into a hall of reflection, where members from across the ideological divide put aside partisan bickering to eulogize the man widely regarded as the “Doyen of Gold Coast Politics.”
The commemorative remarks followed a Parliamentary statement delivered Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South.
Invoking the biblical wisdom of Proverbs, Dr. Agyemang described Danquah not merely as a founding father of a specific political tradition, but as a “philosopher, jurist, and moral voice” whose intellectual architecture continues to support the weight of Ghana’s modern democracy.
The central theme of the tribute was the remarkable bipartisan nature of Dr. Danquah’s legacy.
The Abukwah South MP noted that the true measure of Danquah’s stature is found in the glowing testimonies provided by those who historically stood in firm opposition to his political worldview.
He cited various records from the Parliamentary Hansard where high-ranking members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have, over several decades, acknowledged Danquah’s “enormous and undeniable” contribution to the state.
From the establishment of the University of Ghana and the Cocoa Marketing Board to his instrumental role in choosing the name “Ghana” for the newly independent nation, Danquah’s fingerprints were described as being etched into the very fabric of the Republic.
Dr. Agyemang highlighted past comments from Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Etse Dafeamekpor, both of whom have previously lauded Danquah as a towering legal mind whose history is inseparable from the history of the nation.
Beyond his legislative and academic achievements, the House reflected deeply on the tragic circumstances of Dr. Danquah’s death at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison in 1965. Lawmakers used the occasion to issue a stern warning against the “rot” of constitutional dictatorship.
References were made to warnings from former Speakers and Clerks of Parliament, suggesting that Danquah’s suffering under the Preventive Detention Act (PDA) serves as a perpetual reminder to legislators to guard against laws passed in moments of political urgency.
”The experience of Dr. J. B. Danquah reminds this House that the erosion of liberty rarely announces itself loudly,” Dr. Agyemang stated, urging his colleagues to remain vigilant against modern practices that may test the boundaries of constitutional reasonableness, such as prolonged detention or punitive bail conditions.
The tribute concluded with a sense of national unity, asserting that when professional bodies like the Ghana Bar Association, academic institutions, and rival political leaders converge in their assessment of one man, history has rendered an undisputed verdict.
To the 2026 Parliament, Dr. J.B. Danquah remains a national hero whose sacrifice is not a relic of the past, but a living lesson in the necessity of eternal vigilance in the pursuit of freedom.
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