J. B. Danquah

Joseph Kwame Kyeretwi Boakye Danquah (* December 1895 in Bempong, Gold Coast, now Ghana, † February 4, 1965 in Nsawam ), known as JB Danquah, is one of the most famous lawyers, publishers, writers, politicians and fighters for independence of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the present-day Ghana. He is among the six largest politicians of Ghana, who pushed the Ghanaian independence as The Big Six.

Training

Danquah was born in Bempong as a member of the royal family of Ofori Panyin Fie, one of the most important traditional ruler lines of Ghana. After graduating from junior high school Danquah started at the University of London to study in law and philosophy. As the first African-born him the doctorate was awarded in Law from the University of London. Back in London, he was politically active for the independence of Ghana and became the first President of the West African Students ' Union.

In 1927 he returned to the British colony of the Gold Coast and was admitted to the Bar Association. As a lawyer in private practice, he was still working for the realization of the idea of ​​independence and made contact with the political elite in his home country. Among other things, he worked with along the well-known politician Joseph Ephraim Casely Hayford independence, is said to have called him on his death- bed to himself.

Danquah, the Times of West Africa, which was published in 1930-1935 in the Gold Coast and the first daily newspaper of the British Gold Coast colony founded. During the 1930s he was involved in various political activities and was a member of the delegation to the British Colonial Office in 1934 and General Secretary of the Gold Coast Youth Conference 1934-1937.

Independence of Ghana

In the elections to the Legislative Assembly ( Legislative Council ) in 1946 Danquah moved into the still equipped with few rights the Parliament of the colony Gold Coast. He co-founded the first Ghanaian party, the United Gold Coast Convention and first important advocate of the later Prime Minister and President of Ghana Kwame Nkrumah. Already in 1948 we have had serious revolts against the British colonial power in the course of Danquah beside his party companions Kwame Nkrumah, Ebenezer Ako Adjei, William Ofori Atta, Emmanuel Obetsebi - Lamptey and Edward Akufo - Addo was arrested by the governor and into exile in the northern areas of present-day Ghana has been sent.

After the end of the exile, there was a rift between Kwame Nkrumah and the other leaders of the UGCC. Nkrumah broke away from Danquah and the UGCC to his own party, the Convention People's Party to form. Danquah was re-elected in the elections to the Legislative Assembly in 1951. He became an advocate of a constitution with a bicameral parliament, which should be composed of a Repräsentendenhaus and a meeting of the elders. This plan he could not successfully enforce and has not been confirmed in office again also in the elections in 1954 and 1956.

Ghana became independent in 1957 under Prime Minister Nkrumah. Already in 1960, Danquah appeared as the only candidate in the presidential election under the new constitution against Nkrumah and subject to that much. At the request of President Nkruamh Danquah was first imprisoned in 1961 on the basis of the Preventive Detention Act and newly enacted only in 1962 released from prison. After his release, he became President of the Ghana Bar Association (Ghana Bar Association). Again, at the instigation of President Nkrumah Danquah was arrested on January 8, 1964 in addition to other leading opposition politicians. The time of his arrest he spent in cell No. 9 with a size of 2.70 meters long and 1.80 meters wide, ie about 4.86 m². He died at the age of 69 years in a prison in Nsawam near Accra. His survivors was not an appropriate funeral permitted. His death was followed by many theories about his death.

His political work is still referred to as the Danquah - Busia policy. In this tradition, see next to today's ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP ), the United Party, Progress Party, Popular Front Party and United National Convention.

A roundabout in the government district, the district of Osu in Accra was named after Danquah. Some readings at the University of Ghana were organized in his honor.

Bibliography

• Gold Coast: Akan Laws and Customs and the Akim Abuabkwa Constitution (1928 )
• Akan Doctrine of God ( 1944)
• Ghanian establishment