We salute our World War II veterans

The history of Ghana is never complete if it is written without the happenings at the Christianborg Crossroads 70 years ago today.

On that Saturday, February 28, 1948, three Gold Coast ex-servicemen were gunned down by the colonial police as they marched to the Osu Castle to present a petition to the British Colonial Governor, Sir Gerald Creasy, an event which became a major catalyst in the struggle for Ghana’s independence.

The three ex-servicemen — Sergeant Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey Lamptey — were among about 2,000 ex-soldiers who had fought in the Second World War, alongside the Allied forces, as part of the Gold Coast Regiment of the Royal West African Frontier Force.

Having been demobilised after their gallant performance in the war, the ex-soldiers naturally felt cheated in view of the low gratuity of about one shilling a day that was being paid them.

The ex-servicemen looked forward to the British government paying them gratuity in proportion to and appreciation of the sacrifices they had made, but many appeals made by the veterans were not to yield any positive results.

Having waited for a long period without any result, they decided to directly approach the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Gold Coast Regiment, Sir Gerald Creasy.

So the unarmed ex-soldiers, before noon on Saturday, February 28, 1948, decided to march from Accra to the Christianborg Castle to present a petition to the Governor when they were stopped at the Christianborg Crossroads by a contingent of armed policemen led by a British Superintendent, Mr Collins Imray.

It is instructive to note that the three were shot by the superintendent himself when his orders to his men to shoot the ex-soldiers were disobeyed.

News of the death of the three spread like wildfire and spurred on further agitation for the independence of the Gold Coast.

With the security forces unable to cope with maintaining law and order in Accra, anti-colonial movements stepped up their agitation, forcing the British government to institute a committee to investigate the killings.

The committee recommended self-government for the Gold Coast.

As we mark the 70th anniversary of the shooting and the events thereafter, the Daily Graphic wishes to pay tribute to the memory of the three men and all other ex-soldiers who took part in the march that sped up the independence of the country.

As has been the practice, there is expected to be a national event to honour the memory of not only the three who died 70 years ago but also all others who fought in the war for the sacrifices they made which culminated in the independence of the country.

We are aware that the three have been honoured with sculptures in their memory, a project that was sponsored by the Veterans Administration of Ghana.

Most often, when the story of the independence of Ghana is told, politicians hold sway. Perhaps it is time to tell the veterans’ story in a manner that will put them in their right place as having contributed in no small measure to the independence of Ghana.

It is instructive for latter generations to understand how important the events of February 28, 1948 were to the struggle for independence when we celebrate our heroes.