J. B. Danquah

Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah (18 December 1895 – 4 February 1965) na he be a Ghanaian politician, scholar, anglophile, lawyer den statesman. Na he be a politician insyd pre den post-colonial Ghana, wich na e be formerly de Gold Coast.

During ein political career, na Danquah be one of de primary opposition leaders to Ghanaian presido den independence leader Kwame Nkrumah against whom na he allegedly commit acts of terrorism insyd ein later life. Na Danquah be described as de "doyen of Gold Coast politics" by de Watson Commission of Inquiry into de 1948 Accra riots.

 Early life den education 
Na dem born Danquah on 18 December 1895 insyd de town of Bepong insyd Kwahu insyd de Eastern Region of Ghana (then de Gold Coast). He dey hail from de royal family of Ofori Panin Fie, once de rulers of de Akyem states, den one of de most influential families insyd Ghanaian politics. Na ein elder bro be Nana Sir Ofori Atta I wey na ein son be actor Paul Danquah. 

At de age of six, na Danquah begin dey school at de Basel Mission School at Kyebi. Na he attend de Basel Mission Senior School at Begoro. On successful completion of ein standard seven examinations insyd 1912, na he be employed by Vidal J. Buckle, a barrister-at-law insyd Accra, as a clerk, a job wey na e arouse ein interest insyd law. 

After he pass de Civil Service Examinations insyd 1914, Danquah cam be a clerk at de Supreme Court of de Gold Coast, wich na e give am de experience to be appointed by ein bro, Nana Sir Ofori Atta I, wey na he cam be chief two years earlier, as secretary of de Omanhene ein Tribunal insyd Kyebi. Following de influence of ein bro, na dem appoint Danquah as de assistant secretary of de Conference of Paramount Chiefs of de Eastern Province, wich na later dem give statutory recognition make e cam be de Eastern Provincial Council of Chiefs. Na ein brilliance influence ein bro make he send am to Britain insyd 1921 make he read law. 

After two unsuccessful attempts at de University of London matriculation, na Danquah pass insyd 1922, wey enable am make he enter de University College of London as a philosophy student. He earn ein B.A. degree insyd 1925, wey he win de John Stuart Mill Scholarship insyd de Philosophy of Mind den Logic. Na he then embark on a Doctor of Philosophy degree, wich na he earn insyd two years plus a thesis dem entitle "The Moral End as Moral Excellence". He cam be de first West African make he obtain de Doctor of Philosophy degree from a British university. While na he work on ein thesis, he enter de Inner Temple wey na dem call am to de Bar insyd 1926. 

During ein student days, na he two sons den two daughters by two different women, neither of whom he marry. Insyd London, na Danquah take time off ein studies make he participate insyd student politics, serving as editor of de West African Students' Union (WASU) magazine wey na he cam be de Union ein presido. 
Arrest, detention den death
Na Danquah stand as a presidential candidate against Nkrumah insyd April 1960 buth na he lost de election. On 3 October 1961, na dem arrest Danquah under de Preventive Detention Act, on de grounds of involvement plus plans make dem subvert de CPP government den kill Nkrumah."Dr. J. B. Danquah Profile:", GhanaWeb. Na dem release am on 22 June 1962. Na dem later elect am presido of de Ghana Bar Association."J.B. Danquah", Encyclopædia Britannica.

Na dem san arrest Danquah on 8 January, plus no charges dem make known. Na he suffer a heart attack – na sam claim na dem torture am – wey na he die while insyd detention at Nsawam Medium Prison on 4 February 1965.

After de overthrow of de CPP government insyd February 1966 by de National Liberation Council (NLC), na dem give Danquah a national funeral.
 Publications 

Among ein writings be Gold Coast: Akan Laws and Customs and the Akim Abuakwa Constitution (1928), a play dem entitle The Third Woman (1943), den The Akan Doctrine of God (1944). Na de latter book demonstrate de compatibility of African religion plus Christianity, wey na e be considered a "milestone"Kevin Ward, "Africa", in Adrian Hastings (ed.), A World History of Christianity, Cassell/Eerdmans, 1999, p. 232. for African Protestants wey dey look for ways make dem reclaim dema African heritage. Na he get no training as a theologian.

Family
Na Kwaku Boateng den J. B. Danquah relate by marriage.

 Legacy 
Na dem inaugurate de J. B. Danquah Memorial Lecture Series insyd 1968 in memory of Danquah, wey na he sanso be a founding member of de Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS). De Danquah Institute be "a political think-tank of de New Patriotic Party (NPP)"  insyd Ghana. Na dem set am up in commemoration of ein work dem make e promote ein ideas posthumously.

Danquah Circle, a roundabout at Osu insyd Accra, na dem sanso name am after am.

 References 

 External links 

Category:1895 births
Category:1965 deaths
Category:Human
Category:Ghanaians
Category:20th-century Ghanaian historians
Category:20th-century Ghanaian lawyers
Category:Akan people
Category:Alumni of de University of London
Category:Candidates for President of Ghana
Category:Fellows of de Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences
Category:Ghanaian Christians
Category:Ghanaian independence activists
Category:Ghanaian MPs 1951–1954
Category:Ghanaian pan-Africanists
Category:Members of de Inner Temple
Category:Ofori-Atta family
Category:United Gold Coast Convention politicians
Category:20th-century Ghanaian politicians
Category:Politicians wey komot Eastern Region (Ghana)