Sergeant Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe, and Private Odartey are names deeply etched into the memories of most Ghanaians. These ex-servicemen fought for the British in World War II but were killed while attempting to present a petition on unpaid benefits to the colonial government on February 28, 1948. Their deaths triggered a chain of events that many believe ultimately led to Ghana’s independence.
Seventy-seven years later, it is worth reflecting on who these men were, what led to their deaths, and whether their sacrifice truly played a pivotal role in Ghana’s independence just nine years later.
When discussions about the 1948 riots arise, one key figure often goes unmentioned—Nii Kwabena Bonne.
By late 1947, the cost of living in Accra had risen sharply. Many blamed foreign traders, particularly European, Indian, and Lebanese firms, accusing them of unjustifiably inflating prices. In response, Nii Kwabena Bonne, a Ga chief and merchant, organized a boycott of these firms, set to run from January 26 to February 28, 1948. There was an agreement that the overall gross profit margin of goods not subject to price control would be reduced by 50–75%.
Meanwhile, ex-servicemen who had fought for the British were struggling to survive after returning home. Promised fair pay and improved livelihoods, they instead received little to nothing. Frustrated, they formed the Ex-Servicemen’s Union to lobby the colonial government for better support. Feeling unheard, they organized rallies attended by key members of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), including J.B. Danquah, Ako Adjei, and Kwame Nkrumah.
Their dissatisfaction culminated in a planned march to Christiansborg (Osu) Castle to present their petition to the governor of the Gold Coast. The procession began in an orderly manner on the afternoon of February 28, with the ex-servicemen singing old war songs.
As the march progressed, more supporters and spectators joined, swelling the crowd until they reached the crossroads leading to Osu Castle.
There, Superintendent Imray, a British police officer, ordered the crowd to halt. When the marchers did not disperse, he instructed his men to open fire; however, his officers hesitated—some say they did not hear the command, while others suggest they refused to shoot.
Imray then seized a rifle himself and fired six shots into the crowd, instantly killing two men and wounding others, which led to further deaths.
The killings triggered widespread chaos. Coincidentally, February 28 was also the final day of the planned boycott. However, due to poor communication, the public expected the prices of goods to drop by 50–75%, not realizing that it was only the gross profit margins that were meant to be reduced. This misunderstanding further fueled public anger.
The ensuing riots forced the colonial government to act, but instead of addressing the grievances, they blamed the UGCC leadership. This shift propelled the “Big Six” into the national spotlight, particularly Kwame Nkrumah. Although the UGCC leaders had not directly organized the march or the riots, Nkrumah embraced the momentum while others distanced themselves.
This deepened rifts within the UGCC and eventually led to Nkrumah’s departure to form the Convention People’s Party (CPP), which championed the fight for independence through its “Positive Action” campaign.
A commission of enquiry was subsequently appointed under the chairmanship of Aiken Watson. Commonly known as the Watson Commission, it condemned the existing constitution as “outmoded at birth” and recommended a wider representational base.
This eventually led to the formation of a committee led by Henley Coussey to draft a new constitution for the Gold Coast, paving the way for the 1951 elections in which the CPP won a majority in the legislative assembly, with Nkrumah emerging as the leader of government business. The rest, as they say, is history.
The 1948 riots, precipitated by the deaths of these three ex-servicemen and fueled by Nii Kwabena Bonne’s boycott and the misinterpretation of the expected price reduction, set the stage for independence in a manner that might have unfolded quite differently.
While the riots were not the sole cause of independence, they provided a significant boost to the movement. We owe a great debt to these three gallant souls and to Nii Kwabena Bonne.
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