As a key player in Ghana’s pre and post-independence eras, the story of how the politician, scholar, and co-founder of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) died, remains a significant part of his legacy.
A sad reminder of the circumstances surrounding his death is a rare black-and-white photograph of JB Danquah lying in his prison cell.
Once an ally and later a fierce opponent of Ghana’s first president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, JB Danquah was arrested twice under Nkrumah’s administration.
His first arrest took place on October 3, 1961, under the Preventive Detention Act (PDA) of 1958.
He was accused of plotting against the state after challenging Nkrumah in the 1960 presidential election.
Released in June 1962, he was re-arrested on January 8, 1964, following a failed assassination attempt on Nkrumah on January 2, 1964.
The Nkrumah government alleged, without a trial, that JB Danquah was involved in subversive activities, possibly linked to a planned coup.
During his second imprisonment, JB Danquah was detained at Nsawam Medium Prison in the Condemned Section, Cell No. 9.
The conditions were harsh: a cramped 9-by-6-foot cell with no furniture, only a blanket on the floor, a latrine pan, and poor ventilation.
Reports indicate he was occasionally chained and treated like a condemned prisoner.
At the age of 69, suffering from health issues, such as asthma and hypertension, he endured 13 months of detention.
He wrote letters to Nkrumah pleading for release, but they went unanswered.
On February 4, 1965, JB Danquah suffered a heart attack and died in his cell.
His death is attributed to his frail health, worsened by inhumane prison conditions, though some suggest neglect or mistreatment contributed.
After Nkrumah’s overthrow in 1966, JB Danquah, regarded by some in Ghana’s political circles as a martyr, received a state funeral.
See the photo from the Nsawam Prison below:
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
