Former Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye, has asserted that the current human rights enjoyed by Ghanaians are largely due to the efforts of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Speaking at a mentorship programme organised by the NPP Council of Elders, Prof. Oquaye contended that human rights were not a priority during Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s tenure. He emphasized the significant role the NPP has played in establishing and protecting these rights.
The mentorship programme was part of the activities marking the 77th anniversary of the formation of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC).
The event aimed to educate young patriots on the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition and its contributions to Ghana’s democratic development.
Prof. Oquaye highlighted the pivotal contributions of the late President Edward Akufo-Addo, who introduced a human rights chapter in the 1969 constitution. This chapter, he noted, has been incorporated into all subsequent constitutions, solidifying the foundation for the protection of human rights in Ghana.
“Our forebearers brought this kind of thing. Under Nkrumah, you could be detained almost indefinitely. Why? First of all, PDA allowed your detention of the 1958 law for 5 years. When it got to 1964, he amended it and said after that, you could be given a renewal for another 5 years, almost indefinite.
“Nobody likes that today, nevertheless, they see a hero in the man who perpetrated it against the people of Ghana, it’s a contradiction. We must claim it and we must know that if you love your freedom, you must love the NPP in Ghana today. Our people were developmental, selfless gentlemen, development-oriented and they spoke about it, all the time.”
