Family of late Corporal Patrick Gagbale Attipoe has said it is high time heroes who paid their due to their motherland were celebrated at home and not always at the national level as has been the norm.
Mr. Divine Attipoe, Head of Events and Funeral, Obam Attipoe Family, said although heroes are celebrated in the capital, Accra, Attipoe family believes it is more inspiring if heroes are celebrated in their localities.
He made the disclosure at the unveiling ceremony of a bronze sculpture of the late Cpl Attipoe, who was a victim of the February 28 Christianborg Crossroads shooting incident in 1948, in his hometown, Kpota-Anyako, in the Volta Region on Saturday April 14, 2018.
The sculpture had the inscription: “In memoriam Corporal Patrick Gagbale Attipoe was the first of three gallant ex-servicemen who lost their lives at the 28th February, 1948 Christianburg Crossing Shooting Incident, a pivotal moment in Ghana’s march to independence. May this monument be a testament to your bravery and that of your comrades, Sergeant Adjetey and Private Odartey Lamptey. Xede nyuie, Rest in perfect Peace”.
The ceremony also saw a dedication of Nationalism Park, sponsored by the Royal Duklui Attipoe Family to preserve the memory of their son Cpl Attipoe.
According to Mr Attipoe, the family of late Cpl Attipoe is calling for support of the Anlo state and the region to annually celebrate their son, Cpl Attipoe at home.
“Family members are therefore proposing that around the time when the event is celebrated annually at the national level, a mini-event should take place here. We believe this will have the support of the people of the Anlo state and indeed of the entire Volta Region. We hope this laudable idea will be embraced by all.”
Board Chairman of Veterans Administration, Major General Clayton Naa Boanubah Yaache (Rtd), who unveiled the statue spoke well of the three ex-servicemen.
He said the monument of Cpl Attipoe would help inspire the current and future generations to fight a cause in the national interest.
“I believe this would encourage the youth to be patriotic with the hope that their contributions to the development of their traditional area, the region and country at large would not be in vain.”
In all, five wreaths were laid: one on behalf of Government and the people of Ghana, another for Security Services, third for Veterans, fourth, the Anlo State, and the fifth, families of the fallen soldiers, and four flags: the national, security services, the veterans and the Anlo State flags were hoisted.
In attendance were government officials, traditional rulers, security officers, Veterans Association of Ghana and families of the three ex-servicemen.
Christiansborg Crossroads Shooting Incident
On Saturday, February 28, 1948, a group of unarmed ex-servicemen who returned home frustrated after fighting for Great Britain in the World War II, were marching to the Osu Castle to present a petition to the Governor, Sir Gerald Creasy.
They defied the order of a contingent of armed policemen, led by British Police Superintendent Collins Imray to disperse or be fired upon.
Supt. Imray then ordered his men to open fire on them, killing the three ex-servicemen, Cpl Attipoe, Sergeant Adjetey and Private Odartey Lamptey.
The news about the death of the gallant ex-servicemen sparked riot in Accra and other parts of the country and was pivotal in the struggle for Ghana’s independence on March 6, 1957.
By: Ewoenam Kpodo/voltaonlinegh.com
