A Remembrance Day service was held in Accra yesterday to honour the country’s ex-servicemen who lost their lives during World War II (WW II), which ended in 1945.
The Vice-President, Mr Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, joined some ex-servicemen and members of security agencies at the Osu Military Cemetery, where the solemn ceremony was held to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of WW II, which was marked across the world.
Remembrance Day, also known as Poppy Day, is a memorial occasion observed in Commonwealth member states.
The day, which is observed on November 11, every year, is also marked in many non-Commonwealth countries to recall the end of hostilities of WW I in 1918.
Many countries have come to recognise the day as not only symbolising the sacrifices of those who fell in the two world wars but also those who died later in conflicts around the world.
Commemoration
The various security services, led by their respective heads, joined hands with the veterans to commemorate the day, which was also attended by members of the Diplomatic community.
At the entrance of the Osu Military Cemetery, a memorial has been built to honour 452 soldiers from the then Gold Coast who died and were buried in places in the country where their graves could not be properly maintained.
A fund, known as the Red Poppy Fund, was launched by the Veterans Administration of Ghana (VAG) to solicit financial and material support for the country’s gallant heroes.
Wreath-laying
Mr Amissah-Arthur laid a wreath on behalf of the government and people of Ghana, while the British High Commissioner in Accra, Mr Jon Benjamin, laid a wreath on behalf of the Commonwealth and allied countries.
Other wreaths were laid by the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Ms Pavlin Tendai, the Zimbabwean High Commissioner in Accra; the Chief of the Defence Staff, Vice-Admiral Matthew Quarshie; the Chairman of the VAG, Commodore Steve Obimpeh (Retd), and the Osu Mantse, Nii Oquaye Kinka Dowuona VI.
The atmosphere at the event was sombre, as the Armed Forces Band played patriotic songs.
The veterans mounted a parade and took turns to shake hands with the Vice-President.
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, with collaboration from the National Health Insurance Authority, registered the veterans with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
One of the ex-servicemen, Kwesi Mensah, 90, told the Daily Graphic that his fondest memory was his participation in the war in Burma in 1943 which saw his side overcome its opponents.
He called on the government to pay more attention to the welfare of the veterans.
Similar solemn services were held in the regional capitals to mark the day.
In Tamale, a parade of security personnel from the Sixth Infantry Battalion (6BN), Airborne, the Ghana Air Force, the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Prisons Service was held to mark this year’s Remembrance Day, reports Zadok Kwame Gyesi.
Wreaths were laid in remembrance of the fallen soldiers.
The Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji A.B.A. Fuseini, laid the first wreath on behalf of the government and the people of Ghana, while the Sixth Garrison Commander, Air Commodore Griffiths Santrofi Evans, laid one on behalf of the security services.
Twenty two veterans smartly turned out to join about 180 security personnel to mount a parade in Cape Coast to mark Remembrance Day yesterday, reports Shirley Asiedu-Addo.
Others on parade were policemen, prison officers, Fire Service officers, City Guards and the cadet corps from St Augustine’s and Adisadel colleges in Cape Coast.
The Central Regional Minister, Mr Aquinas Quansah, laid a wreath on behalf of the government; the Central Regional Police Commander, Mr Moses Ninson, laid one on behalf of the security services, while Nana Kwamina Nyimfa, a chief, laid one on behalf of the chiefs and people of Cape Coast.
Vincent Amenuveve writes from Bolgatanga that retired soldiers in the Upper East Region, on the occasion of Remembrance Day, appealed to the government to construct a health facility in the region to cater for the health needs of soldiers.
They also asked to be registered with the National Health Insurance Scheme.
The Regional Chairman of VAG, ex-Sergeant Roland Awariya, and ex-WO1 Alice Issaka, who spoke to the Daily Graphic, also asked for all retired soldiers to be paid their benefits.
