Residents of La, a suburb of the nation’s capital, Accra, are advocating for the reinterment of ex-serviceman Sgt Cornelius Francis Adjetey, one of the three World War II veterans shot dead in 1948 while on their way to present a petition to Sir Gerald Creasy, who was Governor of the Gold Coast at the time.
The residents argue that the current resting place of Sgt Adjetey, a proud son of La, is not benefiting from a missed tourism opportunity for the country.
They are therefore calling on the government to reinter Sgt Adjetey to honour him and the people of La, as well as boost the country’s tourism potential.
Amoah Gogo, a resident of La, shared his thoughts with GhanaWeb’s video journalist, Kwame Adzaho-Amenortor. He called on the state to establish a structure similar to the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum.
"From my point of view, I suggest that the elders or the government sit down with the Presbyterians to establish something like a building or a library, similar to the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, which will attract tourism. The government is always advocating for tourism, and it brings a lot of money into the system. We, the La people, can also benefit from our great man because many great people have come from this land," said Amoah Gogo.
He continued, "Today, we are talking about Sergeant Adjetey. We have another notable figure from Klana who drew the coat of arms, and Justice Olenu is also from La. It's time for the government and traditional leaders to sit down and figure out how best to bring out something so that we can enjoy the benefits of tourism."
Jeffery Tetteh, a member of the La Citizens Network, also highlighted the unfortunate state of the Presbyterian cemetery where Sgt Cornelius Adjetey is buried.
"First of all, it's rather unfortunate that you have come to find this particular cemetery in its current state. It wasn't always like this. It was a properly kept cemetery, well-fenced, and maintained by the Presbyterian Church. Over the years, due to community activities, the walls have gone down, and most of the tombs are in poor condition."
"The sergeant wasn't even given a befitting funeral after his demise. The circumstances under which he died dictated that he was hurriedly buried. It was later that a tomb was erected over his grave. After he was shot during a protest march, an indigene of La identified him and brought him to the family house, where he was quickly buried," he added.
Jeffery Tetteh emphasized the need for proper recognition and reinterment of Sgt Adjetey.
"Over the years, a group of elderly statesmen from La, including Professor Ablade Glover, decided that Sergeant Adjetey deserved better recognition. They put up a statue at the entry point of the La Township. We, the younger generation, have continued this effort through the La Citizens Network, celebrating Sergeant Adjetey annually to ensure his memory is not erased."
He concluded, "We have always called for proper recognition for people who have contributed to national development. Unfortunately, consideration is sometimes given to certain classes of people while others are neglected. If the government is uninterested, we will take it upon ourselves to honour our heroes. The government should come forward and partake in the glory that comes after us."
Sgt Cornelius Adjetey, a native of La in Accra, was shot by Major Imray at the Osu Christianborg Castle crossroads along with his two comrades, Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey Lamptey, during the 1948 riots. They were on their way to present a petition to the then Gold Coast governor, Sir Gerald Hallen Creasy.
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