Accra, Feb. 28, GNA - Wreaths were laid at the Freedom Monument, Osu, on Sunday to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the shooting to death of three ex-servicemen at the Christianborg Crossroads on February 28, 1948. The three, Sergeant Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey Lamptey, all members of the Gold Coast Regiment of the Royal West African Frontier Force that fought alongside the allied forces during the Second World War were killed while going to present a petition to the then British Colonial Governor, Sir Gerald Creasy.

The colonialists had demobilized them promising to resettle them but had reneged.

Lieutenant General Joseph Smith, Minister of Defence, laid a wreath on behalf of the government and people of Ghana while Lieutenant General Peter Augustine Blay, Chief of Defence Staff, laid one on behalf of the security services.

Air Vice Marshal Odaate Bannor, Chairman of the Veterans Association of Ghana, laid one on behalf of the veterans, while a traditional ruler laid another on behalf of the community.

Special prayers were said for the love, dedication and the service the three soldiers rendered to the country during the colonial era and prayed for peace and stability in Ghana and the world.

Relatives of the fallen heroes, Ministers of State, as well as other important dignities graced the occasion. A 540-member parade mounted by officers from the Army, Navy, Airforce and the Police as well as a 20-member parade mounted by the ex-servicemen were also at bay providing salute. Ex-Warrant Officer I, John Banini, reading the history of the incident said on Saturday, February 28, 1948, a number of ex-servicemen were marching from Accra to Christianborg Castle to present a petition to the Governor on their unpaid war benefits when they were intercepted at the crossroads by a contingent of armed policemen.

The contingent, led by British Superintendent, Mr Imray ordered that they dispersed and when they refused to obey, he gave an order to the police to open fire and the three ex-servicemen were killed. The ex-soldiers returned home poor and were not paid their gratuities and after several appeals to the colonial government to consider their plight failed, the ex-servicemen decided that a direct appeal should be made to the British Colonial Governor of the Gold Coast. News about the death of the servicemen spread rapidly, leading to a situation where law and order broke down in Accra and other parts of the country.

It encouraged anti-colonial movements to press the British government to institute a committee to investigate the killings and general disorder. The Committee recommended self-government for the Gold Coast, which subsequently led to the attainment of political independence for the country. 28 Feb. 10