The Martyrs of our independence – 28th February 1948

Lift high the flag of Ghana,


Sgt Adjetey

The gay star shining in the sky,
Bright with the souls of our fathers,
Beneath whose shade we’ll live and die!
Red for the blood of the heroes in the fight,
Green for the precious¹ farms of our birth-right,
And linked with these the shining golden band
That marks the richness of our Fatherland.



The words of our first National Anthem, abandoned after 1966 explains that
the red in the flag signifies the blood that was shed by heroes in the fight
for our independence. But who are these heroes adn how have we honoured
them. Have we so soon forgotten Sgt Adjetey, Lance Corporal Attipoe and
Private Odartey Lamptey, who unlike our politicians who led us to
independence paid with their lives so that we should be free?

The 28th February Road that leads to Christiansborg Castle at Osu, was the
seat of government in 1948 as it is now. The actions of that day triggered
a series of events that led to our independence and we should learn to
honour the heroes and others who played a significant role in those events.

The non violent march by ex-service men was meant to present a petition to
the government about the decision not to pay them the normal gratuity that
had been paid to their British colleagues who served with them in the
previous world wars. This non payment had left some of them destitute and
others had to sell their guns before they could eat. These marchers felt
that the British government had not treated them fairly and were protesting
about the non recognition.

The Police Chief panicked when he say the protesters at the cross roads to
the castle and without warning gave the order for live ammunition to be used
on the protesters. Three men fell that day: Sergeant Adjetey, Lance
Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey-Lamptey were shot dead.

The killings coincided with another event, the boycott by Mr Theodore
Taylor, best known as Nii Kwabena Bonney, Osu Alata Mantse, an African
merchant prince of shops belonging to the Association of West African
Merchants; AWAM, made up of British shop owners, whose price fixing cartel
disadvantaged African merchants.

The news of the slaughter and the confusion after the events led the youth
to loot the AWAM shops on a massive scale. These were the events that led
to a declaration of martial law, the jailing of the Big Six and the setting
up of the Watson Commission that delivered a constitution for our
independence.

But whilst we continue to honour and celebrate the Big Six for their role in
our independence we have not accorded the same status to those who actually
shed their lives as heroes of our independence. Where is the monument to
their memory?

Very few know the graves of these heroes, though one of my elder friends,
Numo Nortse Amartey has pictures of how he has rehabilitated the grave of
Sgt Adjetey and reminds me of the yearly pilgrimage he pays to lay a wreath
at his grave.

Is it not ironic that these people who were protesting about the neglect of
the colonial government should continue to be neglected by the successive
governments though their blood paid for our independence?

On this anniversary of their passing, i call on the government of Ghana to
honour Sgt Adjetey, Lance Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey Lamptey with
a fitting monument and celebration of the day on which they laid their lives
in the service of our independence.

**I also call on the government to rename the International Airport in
honour of Nii Kwabena Bonney.

Let us learn to honour all our heroes especially those who fought for our
independence

Ade Sawyerr is partner in Equinox Consulting, a management consultancy that
provides consultancy, training and research that focuses on formulating
strategies for black and ethnic minority, disadvantaged and socially
excluded communities. He also comments on social, political and development
issues. He can be contacted by email on [email protected] or his blog at
http://adesawyerr.wordpress.com