Afenyo-Markin Attributes Ghana’s Name to JB Danquah Amidst Historical Dispute

Alexander Afenyo-Markin attributes the naming of Ghana to Dr. Joseph Boakye Danquah, citing his extensive research connecting the Gold Coast to the ancient Ghana Empire. While Afenyo-Markin asserts Danquah’s pivotal role in proposing the name, historians like Yaw Anokye Frimpong contest this claim, noting that the name “Ghana” existed prior to independence and that Danquah had suggested “Akanman” instead.

Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, the Member of Parliament for Effutu, recently asserted that the late Dr. Joseph Boakye Danquah, recognized as one of the ‘Big Six’, is responsible for coining the name “Ghana”. During a commemorative event for the 60th anniversary of Danquah’s passing, Afenyo-Markin discussed how Danquah’s extensive research on the ethnicities in the former Gold Coast led him to advocate for the name based on the historical connection with the ancient Ghana Empire.

Afenyo-Markin emphasized that Dr. Danquah dedicated much effort to discovering a name that encapsulated the history, identity, and heritage of the Gold Coast’s people before independence. He noted that Danquah conducted significant research at various libraries, including the British Museum, where he uncovered connections between the people of Gold Coast and the ancient Ghana Empire, promoting the name “Ghana” as one embodying strength and national pride.

The MP indicated that the leaders of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), with members such as Danquah, reached a consensus to adopt the name “Ghana” upon achieving independence. This decision, made in 1947, was ultimately accepted when the nation became independent in 1957.

However, some historians, including Yaw Anokye Frimpong, contest Afenyo-Markin’s claim, asserting that the name “Ghana” existed prior to independence. Frimpong highlighted that Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, established a school named Ghana National College nearly a decade before 1957. He argued that the name Danquah proposed was “Akanman,” and thus could not be credited with the origin of the name “Ghana.”

Frimpong further elaborated on Danquah’s electoral struggles, mentioning that he lost his constituency seat to a relative and was later honored as the Twafohene of Akyem Abuakwa in 1955, an accolade that marked his decline in political prominence. He also noted that Nkrumah initiated educational reforms and named institutions to shape a national consciousness long before independence, questioning the assertion that Danquah could have been the sole originator of the name “Ghana.”

The debate surrounding the origin of Ghana’s name continues, with Alexander Afenyo-Markin attributing the coining of the name to Dr. Joseph Boakye Danquah based on his advocacy and research. In contrast, historians like Yaw Anokye Frimpong contest this claim, stating that the name “Ghana” predates independence and highlighting that the name proposed by Danquah was actually “Akanman.” This discourse underscores the complex interplay between history, identity, and national pride in understanding Ghana’s heritage.

Original Source: www.ghanaweb.com