J B Danquah Memorial Lectures begin

Accra, Feb 3, GNA - The Reverend Professor Kwame Bediako, a Theologian, on Monday urged Ghanaians to use available opportunities under the nation's new democratic dispensation to reconstruct existing intellectual traditions to shape the path of the nation's development.

Delivering the first of three series of the J B Danquah Memorial Lectures, in Accra, Rev Prof Bediako, praised the fortitude of Dr J B Danquah, the Doyen of Ghana Politics, in challenging conventional religious research from Christianity in Europe to Akan Theology of Africa, thus shedding light on a path of research for the African. This year's lectures, the 37th since 1968, is being held under the theme: "Religion, Culture and Language in Human Development: An Appreciation of the Intellectual Legacy of Dr J B Danquah".

The first lecture was subtitled: "Nsem Nyinaa ne Nyame: Danquah's Insight regarding the centrality of Transcendence in human thought". While recognizing the monumental legacies in the fields of politics, democratic governance, law and constitutionalism and the national struggle for human rights and social justice, he said the nation owed Dr Danquah a larger indebtedness.

Reverend Prof Bediako, who is the Executive Director of the Akropong-Akuapem based Akrofi-Christaller Memorial Centre for Mission and Applied Theology, recognized Dr Danquah as one of the first African scholars with an open mind and generous spirit.

He said those qualities formed part of the legacy to the current generation for the development of an intellectual climate, in which it was possible to recognize every human family as portion of the one Family, which makes God a Head.

He recognized God as the fundamental postulate in Akan Theology, with the Akan having a monotheistic concept and Grandness of God as well as Dr Danquah's philosophy on the centrality of God.

Dr Danquah, Reverend Professor Bediako noted was a lawyer and politician, as well as an eminent theologian, with deep African consciousness that shaped his concerns.

He noted that despite the academic prowess and the depth of the knowledge of his subject, Dr Danquah maintained his African identity and resisted to be trapped by European ideas.

Reverend Professor Bediako also spoke of the acknowledged role of the father of Dr Danquah, late Emmanuel Yaw Boakye Danquah, who against odds converted to Christianity.

He said the sacrifices in teaching and evangelising that shaped the young Danquah's personality also benefited the people of Kyebi and other parts of the country economically, socially and politically. Nana Dr S K B Asante, Paramount Chief of Asante Asokore and President of the Academy, chaired the lecture.

Among the audience were Professor Alex Kwapong, Chairman of the Council of State, and Prof Emeritus J H Kwabena Nketiah, both founding members of the Academy.

Dr Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah, a noted politician, lawyer, philosopher and administrator, who died in prison on February 4 1965, was born on December 21 1895, to Emmanuel Yaw Boakye Danquah, an Evangelist of the Basel Mission at Kyebi and Lydia Okom Korantemaa also of Kyebi.

As scholar he wrote and published a number of books and articles. He opposed the Sedition Bill of the then colonial government and formed the United Gold Coast Convention with the purpose of achieving self-government for the people and chiefs and from then was involved in active politics till his death.

Dr Danquah was a member of the "Big Six" who led the struggle for Ghana's independence, but was arrested and imprisoned three times, first by the colonial government in 1948 and twice by Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana' first president, in 1961 and 1964.

Since 1968, the lectures had been a constant feature of the Academy's activities.