Crossroads Shooting Anniversary Marked At La

A solemn wreath laying ceremony was held at La yesterday to commemorate the 59th anniversary of the Christianburg Crossroads shooting in which a son of La, Sergeant Frederick Cornelius Kodjo Adjetey and two others fell.

The others were Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey Lamptey.

Mr Amon Kotei, a renowned artist and sculptor who designed Ghana's Coat of Arms was also honoured at the ceremony which was chaired by the former Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon, Peter Ala Adjetey.

A citation read by Mr E.D. Sowah a member of La Socio Economic Development Association (SEDA) said heroes are not dead men who did great feats but great men who did great feats in their lifetime.

“We celebrate the artistic works of Nii Amon Kotei who designed the Coat of Arms which represents the spirit and authority of the nation Ghana after Independence, Nii Lamei, Gamei and Ghana is really proud to call you one of their own”, he said.

A number of asafo companies from the various quarters of the traditional area, spotting red attire and head bands, singing war songs amidst the firing of musketry took centre stage.

The ceremony was organised by the La Traditional Council in collaboration with the La Socio Economic Development Association and was on the theme “Lest We Forget”.

In an address the former Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Ala Adjetey said the death of Sgt Adjetey and his colleagues marked a turning point in the history of Ghana.

He said the Allan Burns Constitution had been introduced into the country at the time and there was no way the British would have thought of granting independence.

He said after the shooting incident the British realised that they needed to do something and this led to the formation of the Watson Commission which later speeded up the struggle for independence.

He said an illustrious son of La, Ako Adjei, a member of the Big Six also brought Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah to Ghana to champion the struggle for independence.

Rt Hon Ala Adjetey said the fact that the Coat of Arms was also designed by a son of La was proof that the people of La had done a lot for mother Ghana and whenever the history of Ghana is written the names of these persons and the La town would be part of it.

He said the people of La had contributed a lot but their efforts had not been recognised or rewarded and said it was important that “we the indigenes of La remember our heroes”.

A member of the Ga Dangme Society, Notse Amartey appealed to the government to name monuments after the people who had served the country so well.

He said it was important that we remember our heroes so that it would serve as a motivation for the up and coming youth to give of their best.

Prof Ablade Glover, Chairman of the association said it was formed by a group of pensioners in La to assist in the development of the community.

He called on the youth to work very hard and draw inspiration from their heroes and excel for La in particular and Ghana in general.

Before the commencement of the ceremony Nii Ansah Sasraku, Gborbu Wulome of performed libation to invoke the spirits of the ancestors after which Christian prayers were said.

Two surviving children of Sgt Adjetey were also honoured and four wreaths were laid by the La Mantse, Nii Kpobi Tettey Tsuru, Rt. Hon Ala Adjetey, and the head of Dzrasee family.

Smile Theatre enacted a play of the shooting of Sgt Adjetey and the aftermath, how the news of his death was received by his mother and siblings and the people of La.

Story by Mary Mensah