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  • Who We Are
  • Our Mission
  • Our Philosophy

The Danquah Institute was established on 4 February 2007 to act as a policy think-tank, research and analysis centre.

The Institute is named after Dr Joseph Boakye Danquah (21 December 1895 – 4 February 1965), one of Ghana’s founding fathers who established Ghana’s first political party, the United Gold Coast Convention, in 1947, earning him the moniker “the doyen of Gold Coast politics”. In addition to his political activities, Dr Danquah was a noted lawyer, philosopher, scholar, journalist and theologian.

Located in Accra, the DI is headed by Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, a UK and Ghana-trained barrister and solicitor. A former Editor-in-Chief of The Statesman newspaper, PR expert and prominent media commentator, Gabby has made a significant contribution to Ghanaian political discourse over many years.

Our intention is to make a courageous, imaginative, constructive and co-ordinated contribution to nation-building and Africa's development in general, with the purpose of enhancing the life of every individual citizen and, through this, the development of the Ghanaian, Ghana, the African and Africa.

  • Public advocacy of ideas and philosophy of J.B. Danquah, particularly amongst Ghana’s youth.
  • Research into governance, economic and media issues.
  • Publication of research papers, seminar proceedings and a periodic journal, the DI Quarterly.
  • Organisation of seminal events to provide a forum to debate and evaluate policy prescriptions.
  • Networking with other like-minded think tanks and organisations across the African continent.

Individual freedom is at the heart of the Danquah Institute’s philosophy, which takes as its basis the works and beliefs of Dr J.B. Danquah, who saw it as his duty "to liberate the energies of the people for the growth of a property-owning democracy in this land, with right to life, freedom and justice, as the principles to which the Government and laws of the land should be dedicated in order specifically to enrich life, property and liberty of each and every citizen."

The Danquah Institute adheres to the doctrine that the duty of the state is to guarantee to individuals substantive freedoms to make them active agents in their own individual development, and that by so doing we will achieve real and lasting national development for our people.

We therefore believe that supporting, promoting and protecting a competitive multi-party democracy in which freedoms flourish is vital for our development.

Spilling our Oil Revenue over NHIS Seas

Written by Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko

02 September 2010

85 million barrels of oil is supplied everyday across the globe. Ghana hopes to add an additional 120,000 barrels a day to this number - pretty modest by any stretch of expectation. For the next 10 years, revenue accruing to the state from oil production may not go beyond $5 billion. We, therefore, need to be very very wise in how we use the oil revenue in a way that it will open other potential areas of wealth for us rather than using it to cure all our social ills. The key is identifying a few winnable growth pillars and supporting them with resources.

As I write, after a whole year’s national road show and countless verbal assurances from the President that Govt will use oil revenues responsibly there is very little detailed indication of that. Responsible usage should not be viewed only through the cloudy vortex of transparency but by which specific programmes or projects those revenues will be spent on. Our revenues can be transparently wasted.

Read Article

How the Busia Government and the Judges Dealt with Bias Case in Sallah v A-G

Written by Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko

01 September 2010

Ghana’s Deputy Attorney-General recently introduced an element of footsoldierism to the courts by announcing on radio that the presiding judge in the murder case involving the 2002 killing of the King of Dagbon, Ya-Naa Andani II, was bias. With that he has succeeded in getting the judge to excuse (or recuse) himself from the case. So with this background, what frame of mind is the next judge expected to be in?

In the words of the judge at the centre of it, “I have felt insulted, scandalised and indeed bastardised all in the name of the Attorney-General’s office attempt to play politics with the Bench in general and with me in particular.” Strong, damning words from the Bench to Government’s top legal officer.

Read Article

EFFECTIVE UTILISATION OF OIL REVENUE: LOCAL CONTENT, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Written by KEN OFORI-ATTA

24 August 2010

Good morning, it is a great pleasure and honor to be given this very important platform to share my views on the emerging oil and gas industry in Ghana. Let me acknowledge our managing Director Mr. Ibrahim Awal for his leadership and foresight and also the privilege of being on the platform of the second Graphic Round Table Conference with Prince Amoabeng, our most respected CEO and entrepreneur par excellence. more >>>

Consumer Protection Without Law

Written by Omri Ben-Shahar - Cato Institute

23 August 2010

Within contract law, the plight of consumers is often regarded as a basis for enhancing contract enforcement and of bolstering the access of consumers to breach of contract remedies. The one-way contract idea suggests that this is a misguided priority, barking up the wrong tree. Rather than paying lip service to consumers’ “vindication of rights,” “access to justice,” or the right to be informed through mandatory disclosures, this article takes the reality of non-enforcement as given and considers ways to overcome it. It is the cultivation of more potent substitutes that could help consumers. more >>>

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Should the Government of Ghana proceed with the STX Housing deal considering the terms and implications?

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Resources

Repayment Schedule for STX Loan
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The Revised STX Agreement (Relevant Pages)
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GoG, HFC, STX Joint Venture Agreement
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Ghana's GDP Revised
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BoG - Annual Percentage Rages (May 2010)
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STX - Off-Taker Agreement
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STX - Memorandum of Understanding
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STX - Executive Approval
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GoG STX Housing
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Overview of GoG STX Housing Agreement
by Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko view

Right to Information Bill
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Right ot Information Bill - Momorandum
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Regina Vs Mabey & Johnson
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Databank - Ghana's Economic Update (March 2010)
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Asian Perspectives on Governance
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Information Center

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