Red Poppy Day: 79th Remembrance Day marked in regions

Parades were held across the country yesterday to mark Remembrance Day, which is also known as Red Poppy Day.

It is a day to remember soldiers who died during the two world wars and in other conflicts.

Poppies, which represent remembrance and hope, are worn each year as an emblem to mark Remembrance Day events and honour those who lost their lives in the two world wars and other conflicts.

Wreaths were laid yesterday at all the centres to commemorate the day across the country.

Remembrance Day is a memorial day which has been observed in Commonwealth member states since the end of the First World War to honour armed forces members who died in the line of duty.

The day is also marked by war remembrances in several other non-Commonwealth countries.

The day is observed on November 11 each year because it was on that day in 1918 that all hostilities ended during the First World War.

The Armistice (which is a Latin word for ‘stand still’), is an agreement to end the fighting of the First World War as a prelude to peace negotiations, which began at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918.

Cape Coast

From Cape Coast in the Central Region, Shirley Asiedu-Addo reports that a parade of about 270 men and officers was mounted by personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ghana Police, Prisons and Immigration and the Ghana National Fire Service, to mark Remembrance Day.

Togbe Abutia Kodzo Gidi V, Paramount Chief of Abutia, laying a wreath on behalf of the chiefs at the ceremony in Ho

Also on parade were contingents from the cadets of some second-cycle institutions as well as veterans of war.

The last post sounded at 11 a.m. in remembrance of the departed who sacrificed their lives in war for world peace.

The Central Regional Minister, Justina Marigold Assan, laid a wreath on behalf of the government of Ghana, while the Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police Kofi Adu laid, one on behalf of the security services and Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II laid a wreath on behalf of the people of the region at the solemn ceremony.

Prayers were said for the guidance and protection of the nation's leadership and the nation's prosperity, unity and peace in this election year and beyond.

Bolgatanga

A solemn ceremony was also held at the premises of the Veterans Association of Ghana (VAG) Cenotaph in Bolgatanga to commemorate the 79th Remembrance Day parade, reports Gilbert Mawuli Agbey.

The ceremony was graced by personnel of the various security services as well as members of the general public who used the occasion to reminisce about the contributions of the veterans towards safeguarding the peace and security of the nation.

As part of the event, five wreaths were laid in appreciation of the toils and sacrifices of the veterans who lost their lives in the line of duty. The Upper East Regional Minister, Alhaji Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, laid the first wreath on behalf of the government and the people of Ghana.

The Commanding Officer of the 11th Mechanised Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Kakra Sasu-Antwi, laid another one on behalf of the Ghana Armed Forces and other security services, while the Chief of Kongo, Sapaat-Naab David Dok Dong Namaal-Teng, also laid a wreath on behalf of the chiefs.

Additionally, the Regional VAG Chairman, Ex-WO1 Jones Ayelbire, laid one for and on behalf of the veterans and a representative of VAG widows, Yarik Nongodi, laid the last wreath.

Tribute

Speaking at the event, Dr Salih paid a glowing tribute to the veterans for defending the nation’s sovereignty and upholding the country’s values in the face of adversity with allied nations in the international peace and security scheme.

He said “Your resilience, strength and support are testaments to Ghana’s peace and strong democratic credentials” and added that the veterans deserved the nation’s recognition and gratitude.

Wa

From Wa, Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor reports that 150 personnel drawn from the various security services in the Upper West Region took part in the Remembrance Day to honour personnel who sacrificed their lives for the peace of the world.

The personnel were drawn from the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Prisons Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, the 10th Mechanised Battalion of the Ghana Armed Forces and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and were under the command of Captain Emmanuel Kwaku Saka of the 10th Mechanised Battalion.

The 79th Remembrance ceremony was also attended by members of VAG, heads of security services and traditional leaders.

On behalf of the President of the Republic and the government, the Upper West Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, laid a wreath in remembrance of those who fought for the end of the war and peace to reign.

Ho

From Ho in the Volta Region, Alberto Mario Noretti reports that a wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Jubilee Park to commemorate the 79th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Wreaths were laid on behalf of the President of the Republic, security agencies, chiefs and war veterans.

That was preceded by a parade of contingents from the various security agencies and veteran soldiers.

Among the veteran soldiers present was 100-year-old Ex-Private Godfred Amegadzi, who served in the Gold Coast Army’s base in the then Burma during World War II; former Deputy Force Commander and Chief of Staff for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda, Brigadier General Henry Kwami Anyidoho; and former Commissioner of the Customs Division Ghana Revenue Authority, as well as former High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Major-General Carl Setorwu Modey.