NaCCA explains ‘projection’ of J.B. Danquah in new curriculum for schools

The National Council for Curriculum & Assessment (NaCCA) has mounted strong defence for the prominence given Dr. J. B. Danquah over Ghana’s first president Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in the newly developed curriculum for primary schools.

The Council has received some backlash on social media and traditional media platforms, having been accused of trying to rewrite Ghana’s history for political expediency.

But NaCCA in a statement signed by its Ag. Executive Secretary Dr. Prince H. Armah said it has no interest in skewing Ghana’s political history, insisting claims that J.B. is unduly being amplified over others are “unfortunate”.

Nana Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah, PhD was a Ghanaian statesman, pan-Africanist, scholar, lawyer, historian and one of the founding fathers of Ghana. He played a significant role in pre- and post-colonial Ghana.

The statement issued on Wednesday was emphatic that authors of the curriculum were not selected on political grounds.

“History is chronological and periodical in nature. The period covered in the history curriculum at the primary level focuses mainly on the pre-independent events that formed the basis for the later development of political activities which contributed to the independence of Ghana. At this stage Dr. J. B. Danquah played a prominent role. It is therefore important for our young learners to appreciate the chronology of the events of our political history,” NaCCA explained.

“At the JHS and SHS levels, the history curriculum will highlight further details on the independence and post-independence political activities. This is where Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and other political leaders and regimes feature more prominently.

“The experts who designed the curriculum were not selected on the basis of any political considerations, and it is unfortunate for anyone to suggest otherwise. The likes of Prof. Kwame Osei Kwarteng, Prof. Wilson Yayoh, Dr. Samuel Boadi Siaw, Mrs. Anitha Adu-Boahen and other historians who worked on the History Curriculum are all scholars of great repute and proven integrity who have nothing to gain by skewing historical facts one way or the other. For quality assurance, the curriculum was reviewed by Professor Emeritus D. E. K. Amenumey.”

The statement reiterated that the new curriculum is the outcome of a purely academic and professional work.

”Whilst NaCCA appreciates and values public feedback on the new curriculum as an important element in helping to improve learning outcomes through a robust and responsive curriculum, we wish to state for the avoidance of doubt that our work is based mainly on academic and professional considerations.

“NaCCA looks forward to receiving more feedbacks from the public on the new curriculum. Further, NaCCA wishes to thank the public for the generally warm reception given to the new standards-based curriculum”.