A former Minister for Finance, Dr Amon Nikoi, has stated that for the nation to move forward and create the desired level of prosperity and dignity Ghanaians are yearning for, there is the need for politicians and opinion leaders to make personal sacrifices for the good of the nation.

Dr Nikoi, who was Minister for Finance in the Third Republic under the Limann government, was speaking at a ceremony organized by the La Socio-Economic Development Association (LA-SEDA) to honour the memory of the late Sgt Frederick Cornelius Adjetey, the first victim of the February 28, 1948 shooting incident at the Osu Christianborg Cross-roads.

Dr Nikoi lamented that the reason why Africans in general tend to develop at a slower rate is not that those in positions of trust and power forget that it is they who necessarily must sacrifice if nations must move forward. “In our communities, we need our opinion leaders and traditional authorities to sacrifice in our homes, we need parents to sacrifice. The same must apply in our churches. It is when these sacrifices are made at the lower echelons that they can confidently translate into development, wealth and prosperity for the community and the nation,” he told the gathering.

In attendance were Prof Ablade Glover, Chairman for LA-SEDA, the MP for La Dadekotopon, Mr Alfred Ako Nai and the Chief of La, Nii Tettey Kpobi Tsuru. The monument, unveiled by the La Manche has a citation on the life and achievements of the late Sgt Adjetey whose death along with Cpl Attipoe and Pte Odartey Lampetey catapulted the fight for Ghana’s independence.