Choicenewsonline Your Choice Is Here
“For Scripture says, ‘Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,’ and ‘The worker deserves his wages'”(1 Timothy 5:18, NIV).
Back in basic school education some decades ago, I vividly recall reading about three gallant soldiers – Sergeant Nii Adjetey, Corporal Patrick Attipoe, and Private Odartey Lamptey – who lost their lives under unpleasant circumstances.
These gallant soldiers, who had fully participated in World War II, were shot dead on February 28, 1948, during a peaceful march to present a petition to the Governor of the Gold Coast, Sir Gerald Creasy, at Christiansborg Castle in Accra.
History posits that after the war, they returned home, only to find that the colonial government had failed to deliver on its promises of pensions, jobs, and other benefits, hence their protest.
Like many Ghanaians, I read and committed this unfortunate and unpalatable history to memory, not only for academic purposes but also to demand what is right.
Therefore, growing up as students of academics and life, the principle of fairness and human rights, upheld by Christian, Islamic, and other religious doctrines, has been a benchmark for many endeavors.
A Veteran’s Call for Compensation
I recently read a news report on page 10 of the state-owned Ghanaian Times publication on Friday, February 21, 2025, captioned “World War II Veteran Seeks Compensation for Fallen Comrades,” carefully written by Raymond Appiah-Amponsah. According to the report, Ex-Warrant Officer Class 1 Joseph Ashitey Hammond, the only surviving World War II veteran, “has pledged to pursue compensation from the government to assist the families of the three soldiers who were shot at the Christiansborg Castle intersection in Accra.”
While reading the news report, I wondered why successive heads of states, particularly those under the Fourth Republic who swore oaths to do justice to all manner of persons, as mandated by Article 41 of the 1992 Constitution, would be inconsiderate and unfair to the families of these veterans.
Justice Denied
Justice denied is obviously justice delayed. By February 28, 2025, it will be 77 years since the passing of Sergeant Nii Adjetey, Corporal Patrick Attipoe, and Private Odartey Lamptey.
As a nation, we have really deviated from several calls for devoted service to the nation, considering the length of time between the death of these gallant soldiers and justice.
To quote the 100-year-old Ex-Warrant Officer Class 1: “I came back from World War II in 1946, only to find myself discharged without receiving the compensation and employment opportunities that had been promised by the British government. We were left to fend for ourselves, and tragically, some of my comrades perished on the streets.”
Hypocritical Celebration
It’s only fair and appropriate that the nation recognizes and celebrates these three military figures who exchanged their lives for fairness and justice. However, I find it hypocritical that the nation celebrates them without providing befitting compensation to their families.
Is it not too surprising to see state authorities repeatedly mention these soldiers in books and speeches, referencing their dedicated service to the nation, whenever it suits their purposes?.
Compensation
Articles 13, 17(4), 21(1)(e), and 35(3) of the Constitution require the state to provide compensation for military personnel in times of loss or injury in the line of duty.
While it can be argued that these provisions cannot take retrospective effect, I find it perplexing that after 77 years, we still celebrate these heroic soldiers without compensating their families.
I firmly believe that successive governments have given these three famous military heroes a raw deal. It is imperative that we end this unfair, unjust, and unfortunate treatment by compensating the families of these heroic soldiers. This gesture would allow us to retain the moral right to continue celebrating their sacrifices.
By Thomas Awuah Asem
Media Practitioner
