The Ga Dangme Council, which maintains that historical archives verify Tetteh Quarshie’s origin as Osu in the Greater Accra Region, has expressed disapproval of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s claim that the musician is from Mampong in the Eastern Region.
President Akufo-Addo recognized Tetteh Quarshie as the visionary who brought cocoa to Ghana during the 67th Independence Day ceremony in Koforidua on March 6. He attributed Quarshie’s origins to Mampong Akuapem.
However, the Ga Dangme Council has expressed disagreement with the President’s proclamation.
The Council denied the President’s allegation in a statement issued by Nii Ayikoi Otoo, the Council President, claiming that it is inaccurate historically and has generated misunderstanding.
The Council emphasized historical documents that categorically pinpoint Mr. Quarshie’s birth and childhood in Osu, defying the President’s assertion that he was born in Mampong.
“Tetteh Quarshie’s origins in Osu are thoroughly recorded; numerous sources attest to his connections to the community, with the exception of the occasional link in the Teshie. However, he continues to be of pure Ga extraction in both cases,” it continued.
The Council additionally contended that the claim that Mr. Quarshie was a native of Mampong was unsupported by hard data and went against the grain of accepted historical interpretation.
“Removing this false information and giving the true story of Tetteh Quarshie’s beginnings is imperative. We run the risk of warping our perception of history and eroding the legacy of those who have made important contributions to our society by disseminating this false information. To guarantee the accuracy of our accounts, we must rely on historical sources and factual information,” it stated.
The council urged caution in confirming information and halting the propagation of false stories. It said, “Let us celebrate Tetteh Quarshie’s remarkable accomplishments and accurately acknowledge his contributions in order to honour his memory.”
