Yaw Anokye Frimpong has accused Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye of distorting historical facts during his tenure as a lecturer at the University of Ghana. Frimpong highlights conflicts in Oquaye’s classes due to his political biases. In response, Oquaye defends the New Patriotic Party’s role in Ghana’s freedom, contrasting it with Nkrumah’s governance, which he claims neglected human rights.
Historian and lawyer, Yaw Anokye Frimpong, has accused Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, former Speaker of Parliament, of distorting historical narratives during his tenure as a lecturer at the University of Ghana. Frimpong, who studied Political Science under Prof. Oquaye, noted that the professor’s political biases frequently led to chaos in class, as events were misrepresented to align with his political views, causing disputes among well-informed students.
In an interview on Onua TV dated March 10, 2025, Frimpong recounted his experience, stating, “He taught me political science. At the time, he was Dr. Mike Oquaye, and there was always conflict in his class because his course focused on politics in Ghana, yet he twisted historical facts to fit his narrative. If Nkrumah built the Tema Harbour, he would tell us that it wasn’t Nkrumah but the British who built it for him to inherit.”
Moreover, Frimpong criticized Prof. Oquaye for inaccurately portraying the contribution of George Alfred “Paa” Grant in financing Kwame Nkrumah’s return to Ghana. He claimed, “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, even though Danquah was a lawyer who didn’t have that kind of money. I know Mike Oquaye very well, he doesn’t like Nkrumah,” revealing Frimpong’s frustration with the professor’s narrative.
Prof. Oquaye, in contrast, contends that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is responsible for Ghanaians’ freedom and democracy. During a mentorship event organized by the NPP Council of Elders, he asserted that the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition was instrumental in establishing human rights in Ghana’s constitution. Oquaye stated that human rights were continuously neglected under Nkrumah’s administration, further arguing that significant advancements in constitutional freedoms occurred only under the rule of the NPP and its predecessors.
He expressed his historical perspective, stating, “Under Nkrumah, you could be detained almost indefinitely. The Preventive Detention Act (PDA) of 1958 allowed for detention for five years. In 1964, he amended it to allow for a renewal of another five years, making it almost indefinite.” Oquaye also pointed out the contradictions in celebrating Nkrumah as a hero while acknowledging oppressive policies from his government.
Further emphasizing the importance of historical accuracy, Oquaye concluded, “We must claim our history and recognize that if you love your freedom, you must love the NPP. Our people were developmental, selfless gentlemen, focused on progress, and they constantly advocated for it.”
In related news, Ghanaians can also watch the recent episode of Trending GH as discussions arise regarding economic solutions rather than the KIA renaming, as well as a story featuring the return of Kwame Nkrumah’s bronze statue head after 43 years.
In summary, Yaw Anokye Frimpong has raised serious allegations against Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye regarding the distortion of historical facts during his academic tenure. Frimpong provided specific examples of how Oquaye’s political biases influenced his teaching, particularly regarding Kwame Nkrumah and significant historical figures like Paa Grant. Conversely, Oquaye maintains the pivotal role of the New Patriotic Party in advancing human rights in Ghana, challenging the narrative surrounding Nkrumah’s legacy. This ongoing discourse underscores the importance of accurate historical representation and its impact on contemporary Ghanaian politics.
Original Source: www.ghanaweb.com
