A wreath-laying ceremony to mark the Centenary Anniversary of World War One, also known as Remembrance Day, was held in Tamale on Tuesday, with a call on government to take measures that would improve the lives of surviving veterans.
Some 166 men and women from five contingents comprising the Air Borne, Sixth Infantry Battalion, Air Force, Ghana Police and the Prisons Service, joined by retired military personnel under the command of parade commander, Flight Lieutenant Ibrahim Anas Eliasu, took turns to march in remembrance of those who perished in the war.
Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Muniru, Northern Regional Minister, laid the first wreath on behalf of government and the people of Ghana, Air Commodore Garriffiths Evans Santrofi, Garrison Commander, laid one on behalf of the security agencies, and Warrant Officer One (rtd) Imoro Haruna, Northern Region VAG Chairman, laid the third on behalf of ex-service men and women, while Gulkpe Na, Alhaji Abdulai Ziblim, laid the last wreath on behalf of the chiefs and people of Ghana.
The Gulkpe-Na, Alhaji Abdulai Ziblim, addressing the veterans after the programme, appealed to veterans to join hands with peace advocates to seek lasting peace for Dagbon and the nation as a whole, to better the lives of Ghanaians.
He said those who saw wars, such as the first and second World Wars, would be in a better position to educate war mongers to refrain from causing trouble, and stressed the importance of peace in the country.
Ex WO1 Imoro Haruna, Northern Regional Chairman of VAG, appealed to government to seek the welfare of veterans, especially the very frail ones to lead dignified lives.