JB Danquah Gave Us The Name Ghana, Stop The Evil Lies Against Him – Afenyo-Markin

The Minority Leader, Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin,  has said there is an  intentional campaign to put out “evil lies” ostensibly to denigrate the reputation and legacy of the late Ghanaian Statesman, Dr. Joseph Boakye Danquah.

Afenyo-Markin said the deliberate campaign to denigrate the late Dr. JB Danquah was in full swing even when he was alive  and it is therefore unfortunate that 60 years after his death, a Member of Parliament would boldly put out derogatory remakes about him and want same to be recorded in the Hansard.

“Dr J.B. Danquah’s story is not one of mere remembrance but of responsibility. The best way to honour him is not with words alone, but with actions that protect the freedoms for which he lived and died. Let us commit ourselves to preserving justice, strengthening our institutions, and ensuring that no Ghanaian ever suffers the fate he endured”, Afenyo-Markin noted in his speech at the 60th Anniversary Remembrance Service at the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in Kyebi on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

Afenyo-Markin noted further: “It is, indeed, a mark of the undeserving indignity he suffered and the evil lies that Dr Danquah still endures that on the occasion of Parliament marking this 60th anniversary, a member of the Majority told a bold and naked lie that Dr Danquah was a CIA spy and, to support this lie, and referred falsely to a book that rather praises the Doyen of Ghanaian politics. Danquah in his lifetime lamented over these lies against his person from his political opponents.”

“Sadly, this old hate campaign is still with us today, fed daily with oxygen by those who should know better. Indeed, I dare say that, perhaps since the 1940s, no group of people have suffered a hate campaign as enduring as that which Danquah and his people have had to go through. A people who have contributed so much to public service and the betterment of our nation and yet maligned beyond measure for sacrifices that are pure and patriotic,” Afenyo-Markin added.

The Name Ghana

Afenyo-Markin also credited the late Dr. JB Danquah for being the one who gave the name ‘Ghana’ to the country:

“We are called Ghana today because of the research and advocacy of Dr. Danquah. Prior to independence, Dr Danquah travelled near and far to conduct extensive research on a suitable name that would reflect the history, identity, and heritage of the people of the Gold Coast.

“He spent considerable time at the British Museum and other libraries, meticulously studying primary historical sources on the origins and traditions of the ethnic groups within the Gold Coast.

“Through his scholarly investigations, Dr Danquah discovered a historical connection between the people of the Gold Coast and the ancient Ghana Empire. He argued that adopting the name “Ghana” would symbolize the strength, heritage, and continuity of the region’s ancestral past, fostering a shared national identity and pride.

“The United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), formed in 1947 by Paa Grant, Danquah, R S Blay, Edward Akufo-Addo and others, agreed to use the name “Ghana” upon independence. This proposal was ultimately accepted when the country attained independence in 1957”, the Minority Leader added.

Afenyo-Markin said Dr Danquah believed that knowledge was the foundation of national progress and it was his  advocacy that led to the establishment of the University of Ghana; an institution that has since become a beacon of academic excellence in Africa.

“The principles for which Dr. Danquah fought are what hold us together today. The rule of law, judicial independence, and the protection of individual freedoms must never be taken for granted. Recent incidents, such as the troubling raid on a former Minister’s residence, incidentally a grand nephew of Danquah, reminds us of the fragility of our democracy. We must never allow the machinery of state power to operate beyond the bounds of justice. The memory of Dr Danquah demands that we remain vigilant, ensuring that democracy in Ghana is not just a theoretical ideal but a lived reality”, Afenyo-Markin added.