Nana weeps for Old Soldiers

President Akufo-Addo in a handshake with a veteran at the wreath laying ceremony in remembrance of the 28th February, 1948 cross road shooting.

President Akufo-Addo virtually shed tears when he recalled the incident that led to the shooting of three Ghanaian ex-service men in Accra 69 years ago.

The three victims – Sergeant Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey Lamptey – all members of the Gold Coast Regiment of the Royal West African Frontier Force, who fought in the Second World War, were killed while going to present a petition to the then British colonial Governor, Sir Gerald Creasy on February 28, 1948 over unpaid gratuities.

A number of ex-servicemen were marching from Accra to the infamous Christianborg Castle to present the petition when they were intercepted at the crossroads by a contingent of armed British policemen.

The contingent, led by Superintendent Colin Imray, ordered that the three disperse and when they refused he gave an order for the police to open fire, resulting in the death of all of them.

News of their killing led to a breakdown in law and order in Accra and other parts of the country; an event which eventually led to the country’s independence on March 6, 1957.

Experience

Recounting his experience after a wreath laying ceremony at the crossroads, President Akufo-Addo recalled with nostalgia how the event of 28th February unfolded while he was just 4-years-old in his father’s house [Betty House] which was the headquarters of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC).

“That day the house went crazy; hundreds of people rushing in and out and saw my father and people also very busy going up and down and holding meetings,” he said to a prolonged applause while addressing a gathering of veteran soldiers and some officers and men from the various security agencies at the Veterans Association of Ghana (VAG) headquarters in Accra.

“The memory is so strong that I remember saying to myself whatever it is that my father was doing was important and that one day when I grow up, I’m going to do the same thing.”

He therefore had a personal attachment to the event, considering the involvement of his own father and uncles in the struggle for independence.

Belief

For him, “Without this day, perhaps we will not have had independence for Ghana so quickly.”

“The crisis brought about by the senseless shooting of the three, ignited this country from north to south, all over; it led to the arrest of the ‘Big Six;’ it led to the Watson Commission and the design of our future independence of the time.

“So this day is a sacred day for Ghanaian freedom and independence and I thought I should come here to reiterate and express to you the gratitude of succeeding generations of Ghanaians for the sacrifices that men of your association made for the course of Ghana.”

Virtues

President Akufo-Addo could not but extol their virtues.

“For me, you are special people and I thought I should come here and express to you the gratitude of our nation for the difficult work that you do.”

The president has since given his commitment to a proposal by members of the VAG to construct a club house in their memory.

Events

The day was marked with a re-enactment of the 28th February Crossroads shooting incident performed by the Actors Guild to a wild and ecstatic crowd that had gathered at the fringes of the Cenotaph to observe the event.

As the bugle was sounded to invite veterans to be on parade, about 155 men drawn from the Army, Air Force, Navy and the Police Service joined them to mount a parade, witnessed by a large crowd at the Nationalism Park.

Special Christian and Muslim prayers were said for the souls of the victims for the love, dedication and the service the three soldiers rendered to the country, after which the history of the day was read and a roll call of those who fought in the World War II Gold Coast Regiment was made.

Flags were raised, as the bugle sounded the ‘Last Post’ and a minute’s silence was observed for the departed in that historic event.

President Akufo-Addo laid a wreath on behalf of government and people of Ghana and Major General Obed Akwa, the Chief of Defence Staff, laid one on behalf of the security services.

The Chairman of the Veterans Association of Ghana, Commodore Steve Obimpeh, laid one on behalf of the veterans while Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona V, the Osu Mantse, laid one on behalf of traditional rulers.