‘JB Danquah had wanted Ghana to be named Akanland, what shows they are the founders?’ – Kwesi Pratt Explains

Ghana was named after an ancient empire which boasted significant power, wealth and territory. It was called the Ghana empire. The name was adopted at independence because it was believed that the people inhabiting the Gold Coast had a historical connection with the Ghana empire.

The first person to make this suggestion was Rev. J. B. Anaman in his book, The Gold Coast Guide published in 1895. Next and building on this was Lady Luggard, wife of the infamous Lord Luggard who spearheaded what came to be known as indirect rule. Luggard’s book, “A Tropical Dependency” also included the stories of the empires of Mali and Songhai and was used in Achimota in the 1920s.

These aroused the interest of J. B. Danquah who published his book, Akim-Abuakwa Handbook in 1928, two years after Balmer’s book and 33 years after J. B. Anaman first made the suggestion. However Danquah in his book proposed that the territory should be called “AKANLAND” instead of Gold Coast. This drew sharp criticism and he then suggested “AKAN-GA” as a replacement.  

The newspaper, West Africa, again criticised this saying, “it appears Dr. Danquah’s view of nationhood does not extend to the non-Akan population of the Northern Territories”. Upon further deliberations, Danquah then suggested “NEW GHANA”.

Meanwhile in 1948 after the riots and following the arrest of the UGCC leaders, some students and teachers of Mfantsipim and St. Augustine’s College embarked on demonstration to demand their release. These students were dismissed and Kwame Nkrumah founded a school for them called GHANA NATIONAL COLLEGE.

At independence in 1957 the name GHANA was eventually adopted and to quote Nkrumah, “we take pride in the name, not out of romanticism but as an inspiration for the future”.

This is how you became a Ghanaian rather than a Gold Coaster.

This is the unadulterated history according to experts and a staunch supporter of Kwame Nkrumah, Uncle Kwesi Pratt. On the anniversary of the founder of Ghana, he posited on Pan African TV that “These people(the Danquah-Busia) tradition does not know the history of Ghana, as we know it.”

“These Danquah elements supported Tolimo which was led by SG Antoh, which said that part of the country should not become part of Ghana. How can they be founders of Ghana when they did not want German Togoland to be part of Ghana.”?