Yaw Anokye Frimpong accuses Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye of distorting history to fit his political views while teaching at the University of Ghana. Frimpong claims Oquaye misrepresents historical facts regarding Kwame Nkrumah and others, leading to class disputes. Oquaye defends his stance, attributing Ghana’s freedoms to the New Patriotic Party, while critiquing Nkrumah’s record on human rights.
Historian and attorney Yaw Anokye Frimpong has accused former Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, of 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, noted frequent discord among students stemming from Oquaye’s politically charged lectures.
In an interview on Onua TV on March 10, 2025, Frimpong claimed that Oquaye manipulated historical events to align with his political beliefs, which led to disputes with students well-versed in Ghana’s history. Frimpong remarked that Oquaye would inaccurately attribute the construction of the Tema Harbour to the British, rather than acknowledging Kwame Nkrumah’s role.
Furthermore, Frimpong criticized Oquaye for misrepresenting the contributions of business mogul George Alfred “Paa” Grant, who financed Nkrumah’s return to Ghana. Frimpong emphasized that Grant was responsible for the £100 used for this purpose, countering Oquaye’s claims that it was JB Danquah, stating, “I know Mike Oquaye very well; he does not like Nkrumah.”
In response to Frimpong’s allegations, Professor Oquaye emphasized the pivotal role of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in securing Ghana’s freedom and democracy. Speaking at an NPP mentorship event, he asserted that the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition significantly advanced human rights protections in Ghana’s constitutional framework.
Oquaye criticized Nkrumah, asserting that during his administration, human rights were not a priority and that the NPP laid the groundwork for constitutional freedoms. He noted, “Under Nkrumah, you could be detained almost indefinitely,” referencing the Preventive Detention Act that allowed for lengthy detentions without trial.
The narrative surrounding Kwame Nkrumah remains contentious with diverging viewpoints among historians and political figures. As Ghana reflects on its political history, the discussions initiated by Frimpong and Oquaye underscore the complexities of interpreting the past and the lasting impacts of political ideologies.
The accusations made by historian Yaw Anokye Frimpong regarding Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye highlight significant concerns over the accuracy of historical narratives presented in educational settings. While Oquaye defends his political affiliations and the contributions of the NPP to Ghana’s freedom, Frimpong’s remarks reveal a contentious interpretation of Kwame Nkrumah’s legacy. The debate illustrates the ongoing struggle for a unified historical understanding in Ghanaian politics.
Original Source: www.ghanaweb.com
