Some veterans on parade
The 80th Remembrance Day of the end of the First World War was commemorated in Ho, the Volta Regional capital, with a solemn service and parade to honour the gallant men and women who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.
The colourful but reflective ceremony, held at the Ho Jubilee Park, brought together officers and men of the various security agencies, traditional authorities, veterans, and members of the public.
The parade featured contingents drawn from the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire and Rescue Service, Ghana Prison Service, Ghana Immigration Service, and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority. Members of the Veterans Association of Ghana (VAG) also took part in the event.
The ceremony was marked by Christian, Muslim, and traditional prayers, the laying of wreaths, the reading of the Binyon Verse, the blowing of the siren, and the sounding of the Last Post at exactly 11:00 a.m. This was followed by a three-gun salute and a two-minute silence in honour of fallen heroes who paid the ultimate price in defence of peace and freedom.
Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, laid a wreath on behalf of President John Mahama and the people of Ghana. The Flag Officer Commanding the Naval Training Command, Commodore James Adongo Agambire, also laid a wreath on behalf of the security services in the region.
Togbe Adanu Sakrafo X, Paramount Chief of the Goviefe Traditional Area, represented the chiefs and people of the Volta Region, while Ex-Warrant Officer Class One (WOI) Kofi Amegbor laid a wreath on behalf of the Veterans Association of Ghana.
The Remembrance Day, observed annually on November 11 in most Commonwealth countries, serves as a time to reflect on the sacrifices made by servicemen and women during the First and Second World Wars, as well as in other peacekeeping and military operations around the world.
The solemn occasion in Ho reinforced the enduring message of peace, unity, and gratitude towards Ghana’s heroes past.
From Daniel K. Orlando, Ho