Presidential Guard of First Republic dies

Colonel David Gbon Zanlerigu (Rtd), a Presidential Guard under the regime of the first President of Ghana, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, is reported dead.

The Companion of the Order of the Volta Awardee, died at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital on May 4, 2016, after a short illness.

Col Zanlerigu was born on July 1931, at Zanlerigu in the Nabdam District of the Upper East Region. He left behind a wife and 12 children.

He was reputed to have fought gallantly against the coup makers of the February 1966 Coup, until he ran out of ammunition, to defend the country as he was on duty at the Flagstaff House.

After the Coup, he retired from the Army and later went into active politics in 1979. He joined the People’s National Party (PNP) and contested as the Parliamentary Candidate for the Nabdam Constituency where he won.

He was appointed as the Minister of Works and Housing under the short regime of Dr Hilla Limann.

He became one of the founding members of the People’s National Convention (PNC) Party.

He, subsequently, became the National Chairman of the PNC.

A statement issued and signed by the PNC’s Deputy Communication Director, Mr Henry Fatchu, on behalf of the Party, described Mr Zanlerigu “as an astute soldier and politician, who fought selflessly and gallantly for the nation.”

The PNC said: “His death is not only a big blow to the Party but also to the nation. He left a good legacy behind and he will ever be remembered for his good deeds.

“May the Almighty God give him a resting place.

We also wish his family well in life”.