Former Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye, has made a bold assertion regarding the source of Ghana’s current freedoms. He claims that the freedom enjoyed by Ghanaians today should be credited to the efforts of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), rather than to the legacy of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. Prof. Oquaye emphasizes that the NPP, especially through its historical figures, played a crucial role in embedding human rights into the nation’s constitutional framework.
Prof. Oquaye contends that during Nkrumah’s tenure, there was minimal regard for the protection of human rights. He argues that significant advancements in human rights were made under the leadership of the NPP and its predecessors. These views were expressed during a mentorship program organized by the NPP Council of Elders. This event was part of the 77th-anniversary celebration of the formation of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC). The program aimed to educate young patriots on the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition and its contributions to Ghana’s political and social operations.
Prof. Oquaye highlighted the contributions of late President Edward Akufo-Addo, who introduced a human rights chapter in the 1969 constitution. According to Prof. Oquaye, this inclusion laid the foundation for the protection of human rights, which has been carried forward and incorporated into subsequent constitutions. He stressed the importance of these contributions in shaping Ghana’s current human rights framework.
During his speech, Prof. Oquaye provided a detailed critique of Nkrumah’s policies. He pointed out that under Nkrumah’s regime, the Preventive Detention Act (PDA) allowed for the indefinite detention of individuals. Initially, the PDA allowed for detention under the 1958 law for five years. However, in 1964, the law was amended to permit renewals for an additional five years, effectively enabling indefinite detention. Prof. Oquaye argued that this approach contradicted the principles of human rights and freedom.
He expressed that, despite these policies, many people still regard Nkrumah as a hero. He sees this as a contradiction, emphasizing that if Ghanaians value their freedom, they should recognize the contributions of the NPP. He stated, “Our forebearers brought this kind of thing. Under Nkrumah, you could be detained almost indefinitely. Why? First of all, the PDA allowed your detention under the 1958 law for five years. When it got to 1964, he amended it and said after that, you could be given a renewal for another five years, almost indefinite.”
Prof. Oquaye continued, “Nobody likes that today, nevertheless, they see a hero in the man who perpetrated it against the people of Ghana. It’s a contradiction. We must claim it, and we must know that if you love your freedom, you must love the NPP in Ghana today. Our people were developmental, selfless gentlemen, development-oriented, and they spoke about it all the time.”
