Yaw Anokye Frimpong has accused Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye of distorting historical facts during his lectures at the University of Ghana. Oquaye, defending his political biases, attributes Ghana’s democratic progress to the New Patriotic Party, while Frimpong challenges his claims regarding Kwame Nkrumah’s contributions to the country.
Historian and lawyer Yaw Anokye Frimpong has criticized former Speaker of Parliament Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye for allegedly distorting historical facts during his tenure as a lecturer at the University of Ghana. Frimpong, who was a student in Oquaye’s Political Science class, claimed that there was significant discord in the classroom stemming from the professor’s political biases.
In a recent interview, Frimpong stated that Oquaye misrepresented historical events to suit his political narratives, causing disagreements among students who possessed a clearer understanding of Ghana’s historical context.
Frimpong recounted, “He taught me political science… there was always conflict in his class… he twisted historical facts to fit his narrative.” He further exemplified this by noting that Oquaye claimed the British, rather than Kwame Nkrumah, were responsible for constructing the Tema Harbour.
Frimpong also accused Oquaye of misattributing financial support for Nkrumah’s return to Ghana. He asserted, “The £100 that was used to bring Nkrumah to Ghana was given by Paa Grant, but Mike Oquaye would tell us that it was JB Danquah… I know Mike Oquaye very well, he doesn’t like Nkrumah,” he stated.
In defense of his perspectives, Prof. Oquaye argued that Ghana’s democracy is significantly indebted to the contributions of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Speaking at an NPP mentorship program, he asserted that the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition was pivotal in safeguarding human rights within Ghana’s constitutional framework.
He maintained that human rights were often overlooked during Nkrumah’s administration, positing that significant strides toward constitutional freedoms emerged under the leadership of the NPP and associated political traditions. Oquaye recalled that “Under Nkrumah, you could be detained almost indefinitely… Nkrumah is celebrated as a hero today, yet he introduced such oppressive policies… It’s a contradiction.”
Oquaye emphasized the need to acknowledge the historical contributions of those who fought for freedom, concluding, “…if you love your freedom, you must love the NPP… they constantly advocated for progress.”
In related news, there have been discussions about the recent return of the head of Kwame Nkrumah’s bronze statue after 43 years, alongside ongoing calls within Ghana for economic solutions.
In summary, Yaw Anokye Frimpong has vocally accused Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye of distorting Ghanaian history during his lectures, primarily to align with his political views. Oquaye, in turn, has defended the significance of the NPP in shaping the country’s democratic framework. This discourse highlights ongoing political divisions and underscores the importance of historical accuracy in education and public discourse.
Original Source: www.ghanaweb.com
