The group presenting its petition to the speaker
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has been petitioned by a group called the Coalition for Youth Development in Okyeman over what they describe as ‘false and denigrating’ comments made about a founding father of the nation and beloved son, the late Joseph Boakye (JB) Danquah.
According to the group, the remarks made by the Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Murtala Mohammed, about JB Danquah—a founding father of the country’s struggle for independence—were inappropriate and misrepresented the legacy of the former statesman and politician.
“… the MP alleged that Dr. Danquah was an operative of the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and received remuneration to act against the interests of Ghana.
“These statements unsubstantiated and historically questionable, misrepresent the legacy of Dr. Dankwa and risk perpetuating inaccuracies in the official records of Parliament,” the group indicated.
Presenting its petition in Parliament on Friday, March 7, 2025, the youth group demanded that the statement made be expunged from the Hansard of the House, as they maintain it is not an accurate account of historical events to be kept in the records.
They further requested for Murtala Mohammed to render an apology and retract his statements.
“In the light of the foregoing, we respectfully petition this House to direct the remarks in question be expunged from the Parliamentary records to ensure that the official proceedings of this esteemed institution remain an accurate and credible account of history.
“We require Murtala Mohammed to issue a formal and unequivocal apology on the floor of Parliament, retracting his statements and acknowledging this inaccuracy,” it added.
Receiving the petition on behalf of the speaker, Clerk of Parliament, Ebenezer Djetror, assured the group that their concerns would be addressed.
“The concerns presented will definitely be brought to the attention of the speaker for his appropriate response. We want to assure you that Parliament remains responsive to the needs and concerns of the public. In due course, the matter will be addressed,” he assured.
The petition follows arguments made by Murtala Mohammed on the floor of Parliament, asserting that J.B. Danquah is not worth celebrating because scholars have labeled him a traitor and a CIA agent planted in Ghana to sell the country’s secrets.
MAG/WB
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