To characterise JB Danquah as UG's founder is completely false - Professor Gyampo

Prof. Ransford Gyampo, a political science instructor, has revealed that President Akufo-Addo's claim that JB Danquah founded the University of Ghana is completely false.


He asserts that the facts are clear after reading merely the introduction to the study by Lungu, Asamoah-Botwe, and Dompere. He stated that, if he must be charitable, President Akufo Addo's claim that "it was the inestimable work of Dr. J. B. Danquah that mobilised the Ghanaian people to insist on the building" of the University of Ghana on May 7, 2018, during the launching of the "University of Ghana's Endowment," is blatantly false.

It is a "brazen attempt to re-cast" Ghanaian historical truths, according to Prof. Gyampo.

In addition, his claim that "it would be entirely appropriate to describe Joseph Boakye Danquah as the founder of the" University of Ghana is completely untrue. It is a blatant distortion of history.

Ransford Gyampo, professor

According to Prof. Gyampo, the President's comments appear to be attempts to "appropriate history and pilfer" acts of bravery and patriotism performed by other, more famous individuals and the general populace.

"We see this case as yet another attempt to grant unjust and unearned historical dividends to a vastly overrated political figure who, more than once, first as faculty member, then as "Mastership," even declined appointments, to join the leadership of the top academic institution in the then-Gold Coast, the Prince of Wales' College (now Achimota College), we see this case as yet another attempt at doing so.

Ransford Gyampo, professor
Prof. Gyampo also questioned when and how Dr. Danquah's "inestimable work" resulted in the establishment of the University of Ghana as well as the moment Dr. Danquah conceived of the University College of the Gold Coast.

What resources—financial, physical (land), human (faculty), etc.—did Dr. Danquah really mobilise for the University College of the Gold Coast project? Did he mobilise finances all by himself if he did? What part did he have in the planning and structuring of the curriculum at the University College of the Gold Coast, a university of London affiliate? Finally, if Dr. J. B. Danquah was the founder of the University College of the Gold Coast, what convocational and inauguration speeches did he give on August 11, 1948, or at any other time?

Ransford Gyampo, professor
Historical information about the University College of the Gold Coast's inception
To this end, the political science lecturer explained that "fair, objective, and historically bounded" answers to the questions inform Ghanaians that Dr. J. B. Danquah, or "Kantian Philosopher" as he preferred to be called, was never the leading campaigner for the University College of the Gold Coast, now known as the University of Ghana, at Legon, let alone its founder.

He said that the discussion that follows his three-part series lays out historical details behind the University College of the Gold Coast's foundation.

In order to prove that Sir Arku Korsah, the only Gold Coaster on the Elliot Commission, as well as numerous other committees and individuals, as well as letters written by various groups to colonial British authorities and a radio call to action made by Dr. Frederick Victor Nanka-Bruce, a key member of Governor Burn's Committee, were responsible for the eventual success of the movement, "we use more than one 'commissioned' source.

Ransford Gyampo, professor
Moreover Prof. Gyampo argued that Dr. Danquah did not play the primary role in any of the organisations that fought for the University of Ghana, but rather subsequently joined the fight by other groups and contributed significantly to the founding of the University College of Gold Coast.