The solemn flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremony is held every year to honor the three ex-servicemen—Sergeant Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe, and Private Odartey Lamptey—who were killed in 1948 by colonial police while marching to Osu Castle to present a petition to the then Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Sir Gerald Creasy.
This tragic incident, which took place on February 28, 1948, is remembered as a heroic act of defiance against colonial rule.
The unarmed ex-servicemen were fatally shot by Superintendent Colin Imray as they peacefully led their march to Osu Castle.
Having fought valiantly in World War II as part of the Gold Coast Regiment of the Royal West African Frontier Force, they were demanding their rightful compensation from the British authorities.
Their untimely deaths sparked nationwide protests, significantly fueling the independence movement and bolstering the resolve of key nationalists, including the Big Six, in their quest for self-rule.
Their sacrifice ultimately played a crucial role in Ghana achieving independence on March 6, 1957.
During this year’s ceremony, Her Excellency the Vice President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku Agyeman, laid a wreath on behalf of the government and the people of Ghana.
The Minister for the Interior, Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka, and the Minister of Defence, Edward Omane Boamah, were also in attendance, alongside other officials, for the 77th Anniversary of the 28th February 1948 Christiansburg Crossroad Shooting at the Freedom Monument in Osu, Accra.
Among the attendees were the Chief of Defence Staff, Thomas Oppong-Peprah, the Chief of Osu Alata, Nii Kobina Bonnie V, and several heads of the security services, all of whom contributed to making the ceremony a profound tribute.
The ceremony concluded with a dramatic reenactment at the intersection where the tragic shooting occurred.
Adomonline’s photojournalist Joseph Odotei was present to capture these moments.
