The late Chief Superintendent Salifu Dagarti
In recent times, social media carried a picture of a man said to be that of Chief Superintendent Salifu Dagarti, the hero who saved the then President Kwame Nkrumah at the Flagstaff House.
The picture, it has turned out, was not the image of the hero who was then an aide to the President, a senior police officer.
One of the late senior police officer’s daughters, Ms. Aisha Salifu Dagarti, a Deputy CEO of the Zongo Development Fund, who provided the picture said, “this is my father’s picture and not what was bandied about on social media.”
Chief Superintendent Salifu Dagarti died at the 37 Military Hospital where he was rushed to after taking bullets meant for Kwame Nkrumah from Constable Ametewee at the Flagstaff House.
The assassin, who was one of the guards at the Flagstaff House, fired some shots from a 50 yards distance at the car of the President who was then proceeding to it.
Salifu Dagarti received full military burial for gallantry and buried at the military cemetery, Osu on Friday, January 3, 1964.
The President was on his way to the Christianborg Castle for lunch when the incident took place.
Salifu Dagarti, who was born in Kumasi in July 1913, was the son of a former Sergeant-Major of the Gold Coast Regiment.
At the time of his death, he had served the police for 33 years.
He was promoted Corporal in March 1939 at the start of WWII, a Sergeant in October 1941 rising to the rank of Sergeant-Major in July 1946 and Inspector in April 1949.
In November 1954 he became an Assistant Superintendent.
Salifu Dagarti stood out as a police officer his drill worthy of admiration when he stood on the drill square.
He did a six month drill course with the Brigade of Guards in England in 1954 and thereafter becoming a drill instructor at the Ghana Police Training Depot in Accra. In July 1960, he became a Chief Superintendent.
He was transferred to the Flagstaff House on November 12, 1962 as a Personal Aide to President Kwame Nkrumah.
One of the flowery tributes he received when he died came from Commissioner of Police Mr. E.R.T. Madjitey, the head of the Police. He described the fallen officer as outstanding officer with a very high sense of responsibility. He added, “Salifu’s death will forever be mourned by the Ghana Police.”
A Ghana News Agency report hours before his burial had it that his body draped in the national colours was brought from the 37 Military Hospital in an Army ambulance to the Baden Powell Memorial Hall where thousands of persons paid their last respect to him. Salifu Dagarti became a household name for his gallantry and loyalty.
One of his children retired as a Colonel from the Ghana Army.
By A.R. Gomda