'Erect Befitting Monuments In Memory Of 28th February Shooting Victims', Wednesday, Feb, 29, Spread
The 64th anniversary of the 28th February Christianborg Crossroads shooting was observed in Accra yesterday, with an appeal to the government to erect befitting statues in memory of the fallen heroes.
“We have monuments, statues and national edifices named after the Big Six but not for these gallant officers who died in the service of the nation,” Rev Stephen O. Adjetey, a son of the late Sergeant Adjetey, one of the victims of the incident, said.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on the sidelines of the event, Rev Adjetey said even though the incident was commemorated annually, befitting statues for the fallen soldiers at the site of the incident would be a great honour to their memory.
That sentiment was shared by Mr Michael Attipoe, a son of the late Corporal Peter Attipoe, who said “Statues for these gallant soldiers will be an honour and reminder to young people that one’s sacrifice for the nation will not go unrecognised.”
Earlier at the symbolic ceremony, wreaths were laid and flags raised at the newly named Nationalism Park at Osu in Accra to commemorate the anniversary of the shooting to death of three ex-servicemen, namely, Sergeant Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey-Lamptey, all members of the Gold Coast Regiment of the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF).
While the Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, laid a wreath on behalf of the government and the people of Ghana, the acting Chief of the Defence Staff, Rear Admiral Mathew Quarshie, laid one on behalf of the security services.
The Chairman of the Veterans Association of Ghana, Commodore Steve Obimpeh (retd), laid a wreath on behalf of the veterans; the Otublohum Mantse, Nii Dodoo Nsaki II, laid one on behalf of traditional authorities, while Mr Attipoe laid the final wreath on behalf of the families of the fallen soldiers.
Present at the ceremony were the Minister of Defence, Lt Gen Henry Smith (retd); the National Security Advisor, Brigadier-General Joseph Nunoo-Mensah (retd); the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashietey; the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Mr Kobby
Acheampong; senior security chiefs, veterans, traditional leaders, religious leaders and members of the Diplomatic Corps.
Special prayers were said for the love, dedication and the service that the three soldiers rendered to the country, peace and stability in Ghana, the leadership of the country and relatives of the fallen heroes.
An impressive parade was mounted by a contingent drawn from the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the police and veteran soldiers. Although visibly weak, the ex-servicemen defied the scorching sun to pay homage to their departed colleagues.
The 28th February Christianborg Crossroads shooting incident is observed annually in honour of the defenceless ex-servicemen who, in 1948, were killed by the colonial police while marching peacefully to the Osu Castle to present a petition to the then governor.
During the Second World War, soldiers of the Gold Coast Regiment of the RWAFF fought alongside the Allied Forces. At the end of the war, there was increased agitation by anti-colonial movements for independence for the colonies in South East Asia and Africa.
The war veterans, who had fought so gallantly and received high commendations, were demobilised after the war and paid a pittance by way of war gratuity of about one shilling a day. They were not happy with the gratuity.
They had thought the British Government, which then ruled the Gold Coast, would, in appreciation of their selfless sacrifices, pay them the right gratuities.
Besides, several appeals made by the soldiers were not heeded.
When the reasonable war benefits were not forthcoming, the ex-servicemen decided that a direct approach should be made to Sir Creasy.
Consequently, before noon on Saturday, February 28, 1948, a number of unarmed ex-servicemen were on a march from Accra to the Christianborg Castle to present a petition to the Governor and Commander-in-Chief when they were intercepted at the Christianborg Crossroad by a contingent of armed policemen, led by a British Superintendent, Mr Imray.
Mr Imray ordered the ex-servicemen to disperse, and when his orders were disobeyed, he gave an order to the police to open fire.
When the second order was not complied with, Mr Imray fired at the ex-servicemen, killing Sergeant Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey-Lamptey.
News of the death of the gallant ex-servicemen led to the breakdown of law and order in Accra and other parts of the country, a situation which encouraged anti-colonial movements to press the British government to institute a committee to investigate the killings and the general disorder.
The committee recommended self-government for the Gold Coast, which subsequently led to the attainment of political independence for the country on March 6, 1957.
“We have monuments, statues and national edifices named after the Big Six but not for these gallant officers who died in the service of the nation,” Rev Stephen O. Adjetey, a son of the late Sergeant Adjetey, one of the victims of the incident, said.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on the sidelines of the event, Rev Adjetey said even though the incident was commemorated annually, befitting statues for the fallen soldiers at the site of the incident would be a great honour to their memory.
That sentiment was shared by Mr Michael Attipoe, a son of the late Corporal Peter Attipoe, who said “Statues for these gallant soldiers will be an honour and reminder to young people that one’s sacrifice for the nation will not go unrecognised.”
Earlier at the symbolic ceremony, wreaths were laid and flags raised at the newly named Nationalism Park at Osu in Accra to commemorate the anniversary of the shooting to death of three ex-servicemen, namely, Sergeant Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey-Lamptey, all members of the Gold Coast Regiment of the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF).
While the Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, laid a wreath on behalf of the government and the people of Ghana, the acting Chief of the Defence Staff, Rear Admiral Mathew Quarshie, laid one on behalf of the security services.
The Chairman of the Veterans Association of Ghana, Commodore Steve Obimpeh (retd), laid a wreath on behalf of the veterans; the Otublohum Mantse, Nii Dodoo Nsaki II, laid one on behalf of traditional authorities, while Mr Attipoe laid the final wreath on behalf of the families of the fallen soldiers.
Present at the ceremony were the Minister of Defence, Lt Gen Henry Smith (retd); the National Security Advisor, Brigadier-General Joseph Nunoo-Mensah (retd); the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashietey; the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Mr Kobby
Acheampong; senior security chiefs, veterans, traditional leaders, religious leaders and members of the Diplomatic Corps.
Special prayers were said for the love, dedication and the service that the three soldiers rendered to the country, peace and stability in Ghana, the leadership of the country and relatives of the fallen heroes.
An impressive parade was mounted by a contingent drawn from the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the police and veteran soldiers. Although visibly weak, the ex-servicemen defied the scorching sun to pay homage to their departed colleagues.
The 28th February Christianborg Crossroads shooting incident is observed annually in honour of the defenceless ex-servicemen who, in 1948, were killed by the colonial police while marching peacefully to the Osu Castle to present a petition to the then governor.
During the Second World War, soldiers of the Gold Coast Regiment of the RWAFF fought alongside the Allied Forces. At the end of the war, there was increased agitation by anti-colonial movements for independence for the colonies in South East Asia and Africa.
The war veterans, who had fought so gallantly and received high commendations, were demobilised after the war and paid a pittance by way of war gratuity of about one shilling a day. They were not happy with the gratuity.
They had thought the British Government, which then ruled the Gold Coast, would, in appreciation of their selfless sacrifices, pay them the right gratuities.
Besides, several appeals made by the soldiers were not heeded.
When the reasonable war benefits were not forthcoming, the ex-servicemen decided that a direct approach should be made to Sir Creasy.
Consequently, before noon on Saturday, February 28, 1948, a number of unarmed ex-servicemen were on a march from Accra to the Christianborg Castle to present a petition to the Governor and Commander-in-Chief when they were intercepted at the Christianborg Crossroad by a contingent of armed policemen, led by a British Superintendent, Mr Imray.
Mr Imray ordered the ex-servicemen to disperse, and when his orders were disobeyed, he gave an order to the police to open fire.
When the second order was not complied with, Mr Imray fired at the ex-servicemen, killing Sergeant Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey-Lamptey.
News of the death of the gallant ex-servicemen led to the breakdown of law and order in Accra and other parts of the country, a situation which encouraged anti-colonial movements to press the British government to institute a committee to investigate the killings and the general disorder.
The committee recommended self-government for the Gold Coast, which subsequently led to the attainment of political independence for the country on March 6, 1957.
Comments
Post a Comment