You can’t visit Nsawam Prisons; National Security tells JB Danquah family
A request by the family of the late Dr Joseph Boakye Danquah to visit the Nsawam Prisons as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of his death has been turned down.
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Wednesday, February 4, 2015, marks exactly 50 years of the passing of Dr Danquah, who was one of the fathers of Ghana’s independence movement commonly known as the ‘Big Six’.
After struggling for Ghana’s independence, Dr J.B. Danquah spent some time in prison under the Preventive Detention Act introduced by Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President.
He died in detention, without trial, at the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons on February 4, 1965.
His family had wanted to visit the cell in which he died on Wednesday as part of the commemoration but in a response to the request, the Interior Minister said: "I wish to acknowledge with thanks receipt of your letter dated January 22, 2015.
“The matter was referred to the National Security Council and the Ghana Prisons who have both advised that Prisons are security zones and therefore your request should not be acceded to.”
Meanwhile the 2016 flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will deliver a speech on the theme, “Danquah – The Unfinished Agenda,” to commemorate the 50th anniversary at the Accra International Conference Centre, Wednesday.
The Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amotia Ofori Panin; the Royal Asona Family of Adadientem; and the children of the Dr. J. B. Danquah have organised a series of activities on the day to celebrate the life of the “doyen of Gold Coast politics.”
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The symposium, which will be held at the Accra International Conference Centre at 4pm will be chaired by Prof. Mike Oquaye, former Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
Other speakers at the symposium are Prof. S.K.B. Asante, who will speak on “Dr. Danquah’s sacrifice and service to Mother Ghana” and C.K. Tedam, who will address the gathering on “Dr. Danquah and the Northern People’s Party.”
The final event for the day will be a procession of family, friends and well-wishers from the Maronite Church to the Danquah Circle, in Osu.