'JB Danquah, a man of very great intelligence but suffers from a disease unknown to politics' – Watson Commission

In its work following the 1948 Riots in Accra, the Watson Commission investigated the cause and consequences of the public activity. It also made recommendations to its appointing authority, the British colonial government.

But at the heart of the 1948 Riots, which heralded the independence of Ghana, were personalities like Joseph Boakye Danquah, popularly known as JB Danquah.

As contained in Chapter Two of his book, The President Ghana Never Got, Manasseh Azure Awuni, shared contents of the Watson Commission report.

The details, captured on page 17 of the report, made some comments about JB Danquah, describing him as an intelligent man.

The report, however, had a very awkward description of the man known as the ‘doyen of Gold Coast politician.’

Those words were: "...we are satisfied that its creator and driving force-at all events until the arrival of Mr. Nkrumah-was Dr. Danquah. Dr. Danquah might be described as the doyen of Gold Coast politicians. He has founded or been connected with most political movements since his adolescence. He is a member of the Legislative Council and but for the accident of birth might have been a notable chief.

“He is a man of very great intelligence but suffers from a disease not unknown to politicians throughout the ages and recognised under the generic name of expediency."

It is unclear what that description actually referred to, but as Ghana marks its 68th independence, the history of this nation cannot be written without the likes of Dr. J. B. Danquah.

Meanwhile, watch this Ghana Month special edition of People and Places as we hear the story of how the head of Kwame Nkrumah's bronze statue was returned after 43 years, below:



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