source of inspiration to the country.

As has been the case over the years, national events will be held today at which wreaths will be laid by key political figures and family members in honour of the gallant ex-servicemen who died resisting the oppressor’s rule.

The event that took the lives of the tragic heroes who were all members of the then Gold Coast Regiment of the Royal West African Frontier Force, turned out to be one of the major catalysts to the struggle for Ghana’s independence.

History

History has it that before noon on Saturday, February 28, 1948, a group of unarmed ex-servicemen who had fought for Great Britain, her allies, in the World War II were marching to the Osu Castle to present a petition to the Governor, Sir Gerald Creasy.

The war veterans were frustrated by the failure of the colonial administration to fulfill promises made to them before the war – to better their standard of living.

A contingent of armed police men, led by British Police Superintendent Collins Imray, intercepted them at the crossroads and ordered them to disperse.

In defiance of the order, the ex-service men marched on to accomplish their mission. But this was not to be as Collins Imray gave an order to the police to open fire on them, killing the three ex-servicemen in the process.

Though tragic, the unfortunate event turned out to be a blessing in disguise because it paved the way for more nationalist activities and encouraged anti-colonial movements to press the British government to institute a committee to investigate the killings and general disorder that followed.

The recommendation of the committee set the tone for self-government for the Gold Coast.

Relevance

Though dead and gone, their names are written in gold in the political history of Ghana and their heroic exploits remain indelible in the country’s forward march.

As we mark this day, there is the need to reflect on the values the ex-servicemen stood for by striving hard to overcome national challenges such as corruption, nepotism, pilfering, and ethnocentrism.

As we celebrate these gallant fighters, let us ask ourselves what posterity will remember us for.