Ghana marks 28th February Christiansburg Crossroads shooting

A solemn flag raising and wreath-laying ceremony has been held today February 28, at the newly created Nationalism Park, close to the Freedom Monument at Osu, Accra to commemorate the 71st anniversary of the 28 February 1948 Christiansborg, Crossroad shooting.

Celebrated every year to honour the three ex-servicemen who were killed in 1948 by the colonial police while marching to Osu Castle to present a petition to the then Governor, the event was witnessed by Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, Ministers of state, Service commanders of the various security agencies, traditional rulers, the clergy and other identifiable groups.

Students from primary and Junior High Schools, the public and relatives of the fallen heroes clothed in black and white, gathered to remember the day amidst solemn hymns from the Ghana Armed Forces Band.

A parade contingent consisting of officers from the Ghana Army, Navy, Air Force, Police and the Veterans Association of Ghana (VAG) was also in session.

Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumiah laid a wreath on behalf of government and people of Ghana, Chairman for the Veterans Association of Ghana, Lt General (rtd) Yaakye, laid one on behalf of the Veterans, while the Osu Mantse, Nii Kinta Dowuona V, laid another on behalf of traditional authorities.

Members of the Ghana Actors Guild also performed a re-enactment in commemoration of the shooting incident after the wreath laying ceremony

background

It would be recalled that, on that sorrowful Saturday, 28th February 1948, before noon, a number of unarmed ex-servicemen were on a march from Accra to the Christiansborg Castle to present a petition to the Governor General and Commander-in-Chief, Sir Gerald Creasy, when they were intercepted at the Christiansborg Crossroad by a contingent of armed policemen, led by a British Superintendent, Colin Imray.

Superintendent Imray ordered the ex-servicemen to disperse, but they did not. He then gave orders to the police to open fire on the ex-service men, but that too did not deter them, so Superintendent Imray himself fired at the Ex-servicemen, killing Sergeant Adjetey, Cpl Attipoe and Private Odartey Lamptey, instantly in cold blood.

The news about the death of the gallant Ex-servicemen spread rapidly, leading to a situation where law and order broke down in Accra and other parts of the country, which was popularly referred to as the 1948 disturbances.

This encouraged the anti-colonial movements to press the British government to institute a committee to investigate the killings and the consequent general disorder.



The committee recommended self- government for the Gold Coast, and subsequently, led to the attainment of political independence for the country on March 6, 1957.