Joseph Boakye Danquah was born on December 18th,1895 in Bepong, Kwahu in the Eastern region of Ghana. He was a politician, writer, lawyer and a member of the Big Six. Dr JB Danquah was one of the people in opposition who criticized Dr Kwame Nkrumah on many occasions when the latter was the president of Ghana.
Dr JB Danquah began schooling at the Basel Mission school at Kyibi then to Basel Senior School at Begoro all in the Eastern region of Ghana. He completed standard seven examinations in 1912 and became the clerk at the Supreme Court of Gold Coast ( now Ghana). Dr JB was a very brilliant young man in his family which influenced his big brother to send him to abroad to read law in a British university.
On 4th February, 1965,Dr Joseph Boakye Danquah, one of Ghana's statesmen,an author, a Chief and playwright, died in Nsawam Medium Prison of a heart attack for allegedly being implicated in a plot against the then President-Kwame Nkrumah in 1964.
However, the National Liberation Council (NLC), which was a joint formation of Police and Military officers overtook President Kwame Nkrumah in 1966 and gave Dr JB Danquah a befitting national funeral and rehabilitated his status. Dr Kwame Nkrumah's overthrow was the first coup d'état to have occurred in Gold Coast.
JB Danquah is famous for undertaking the research that gave Gold Coast its new name-Ghana, when Gold Coast attained independence in 1957. Dr JB Danquah found out in his research that, majority of the people of Gold Coast migrated from Old Ghana Empire. The Akans are believed to have entered Gold Coast after wandering for so many years.
He also played an important role in the establishment of the University of Ghana, the premier and largest university in Ghana. Dr JB Danquah died age 70. A roundabout in Osu has been named after him called Dankwa Roundabout.
Ghana will forever be proud of and remember Dr JB Danquah for his contribution towards national development.
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