Welcome, dear reader!

So this is a bit of historical fiction. If you’re a Ghanaian, you most likely know about the 1948 Riots and how it was a catalyst of sorts for what became a long but successful fight for independence. This story is taking us back to the 1940s when Ghana was called Gold Coast. Let’s see how it gonna go. Buckle up and enjoy!

Terror pulsed through his veins as he ran as fast as his weary feet could carry him.

His heart pumping overtime from the adrenaline-fuelled by fright and flight, scrambling to a place of safety was the only aim at that moment. No time to take a breath or even think; all that mattered was getting away from this ambush attack by the enemy.

“Goodness, these Japanese troops are crafty!” he panted to himself as he sprinted through the jungle in which he and the rest of the regiment were stationed, fiercely resisting every attempt to look back.

Shots were flying through the air. Screams and yells of agony followed. The sounds of bodies dropping to the floor a haunting reminder that this war was as real as could be.

Which was why he couldn’t stop for a moment. Even with the stitch in his side. He’d rather carry that on than risk a bullet to the head.

Breathing heavily as his boots trampled over twigs and sticks, he looked to his left.

Fellow soldiers also on the run, moving as quickly as they could.

“DON’T STOP MOVING!” one of the captains yelled from behind him. “KEEP MOVING! DON’T STOP RUNN-“

The sound of a gunshot coinciding with the sudden silencing of that voice sent chills of terror down his spine. These Japanese troops truly were relentless!

No time to look back and see the fallen soldier, they had to keep moving.

He held his side as he gasped in pain, the stitch in his side growing stronger with each step. It was like his body was screaming for rest.

A demand he couldn’t fulfill if that body still wanted the breath of life in it.

He shook his head and gritted his teeth. “No! I can’t stop… must keep moving… must keep…”

“NO! CORPORAL! CHANGE COURSE! CHANGE-“

The panicked cry of a soldier nearby to one of their comrades ahead of them was cut short, as the comrade, too focused on trying to get into a safe place, ran right into an area where they had planted a landmine.

And ran right upon it.

The blast threw everyone aback.

Now he lay on the floor, totally floored by the impact of the blast, and inflicted with a loud, painful ringing in his ears.

His face to the ground, he gritted his teeth as the exquisite nature of the pain crippled him. He opened his mouth to scream out loud, yet he couldn’t hear a thing.

“AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

Bellowing in agony, he didn’t notice a body falling in the direction of where he lay.

By the time he turned to look, it was almost upon him…

“AHHHHH-“

He sprang up from the mattress, breathing heavily and drenched in sweat. Looking around, he quickly surveyed his surroundings.

Nope, no sign of conflict or war.

He was in his room, with his wife, who was sound asleep next to him.

And his three children, who were lying on cloths laid out for them on the floor.

He sighed and shook his head. Of course! It wasn’t 1944 or 1945, it was 1948. 

So he wasn’t in the jungles of Burma fighting World War 2 anymore. He was in his homeland, the Gold Coast. The war had come to an end a long time ago.

As he wiped the sweat off his brow, breathing a little easier, he shook his head again.

Sure, Sergeant Nii Amarteifio wasn’t on the war front anymore.

But there was another battle to deal with.

***

“These people still don’t want to give us our due. Why kraaa are they doing this to us?” Nii Amarteifio grumbled as he made his way out of the latrine. “I just don’t understand. Look at me. I have to take care of Naa Anyema and three young children. How in the world are 30 shillings enough to do that? It’s pitiful, just pitiful! And it’s not as if this job is providing anything substantial.”

It was 5:54 am, and as always, he was on his way to take a bath before dressing up and making his way to work.

As a storekeeper.

Not exactly the type of job he had been looking forward to since his demobilization.

Ever since he and his cronies had returned to the Gold Coast after the end of the Second World War, expectations had been high for life after that unforgettable chapter. They had seen atrocities, put their lives on the line for the British Empire, and risked it all. They had witnessed many men fall in battle, including some of their own. But they forged ahead, doing what they had to do. And they had returned with promises of good gratuities and well-paying jobs.

Unfortunately, time only showed them that those promises were nothing more than lip service.

Times were tough in the Gold Coast, and the pittance given to them as ex-servicemen didn’t make things less difficult. Most of them, like Nii Amarteifio, lived in pretty deplorable homes and had to depend on the little they earned from the little jobs they managed to get.

No doubt about it, the average ex-serviceman in Gold Coast was struggling. And Nii Amarteifio, unfortunately, was one of them.

***

“My husband,” Naa Anyema called to him as he entered the house, “Bernard passed by to ask about you. He said I should remind you about the rally.”

Nii Amarteifio nodded stiffly as he made his way into their room. “Of course, of course. I definitely haven’t forgotten about it. Na the way they’ve littered the streets with those posters, how can I forget?”

As he moved into the room and towards the suitcase near the mattress, he heard the voice of his wife behind him. “But Nii, is this a good idea? After what happened yesterday with the demonstrations and all… I mean, is this worth it? Won’t these authorities come and arrest you or something?”

“Of course, it’s worth it,” Nii Amarteifio responded quickly and sharply as he put on his singlet. “What happened at the court doesn’t have anything to do with us. We are meeting to decide what to do about what they owe us. So they can’t come and arrest us for anything. It’s our benefits and pensions we are looking for. In any case, are you happy with how things are? This ghetto we are living in… herh, where is Ayi? How many times have I told him to take the cloth and air it when he gets up? This boy kraaa…”

Naa Anyema sighed as she took the cloth from his hands. “Let me handle that. I’ll speak to him myself. But Nii, honestly, I fear these white people ooo. I just have this feeling we should just leave it in God’s hands, and at the right time, He’ll come through for us. This petitioning the governor and all, I dunno if it’ll help in any way, to be honest…”

Nii Amarteifio shook his head, watching his wife with a tint of disdain as he pulled his trousers on. This was not the first time she had expressed this sentiment, and he did not find it amusing in the slightest.

“Woman, please, spare me that talk about leaving it in the hands of God. Doesn’t God help those who help themselves? Look, fighting that war was no joking matter. I’ve told you many times before, haven’t I? I’ve watched men die before my very eyes. Enemy soldiers. Fellow comrades. I had to live through that horror show in the jungles of Burma and put my life on the line for the honour of the King of England. I didn’t complain once through it all, I just kept going. I knew what I was in for, and I stayed true to the course.

“And after it was all over, we were promised a whole lot. They thanked us for our service and told us we’ll get due benefits for our valuable contribution, as they called it, as they called it. It’s been almost three years and we’ve seen nothing. Nothing at all. The cost of living in this country is already terribly high as it is, and we’ve been ignored totally. Naa, we’ve been praying and hoping long enough. Nothing is changing. I’m still living in this ramshackle slum. Our three kids still can’t go to school because there’s not enough money. All I get is 30 shillings a month, which can’t do anything for us. Five human beings, yet every night, we’re sharing two balls of kenkey and one fish. Are you happy with it? Of course not! You are the same one who will be frowning all over the place if I don’t give you money!

“It’s time to take action now! I can’t continue sitting on my hands and hoping magic will suddenly happen, because guess what, it won’t! So stop telling me I should leave it up to God, because nothing will change if I do! Absolutely nothing!”

Naa Anyema bowed her head. “I’m sorry.”

Glaring at her, he snapped, “You had better be! You are not the one who has to keep this home together, I am. And if going for this thing and making sure we get our due is what will help us, so be it! I’m not leaving anything to God; that your mindset will leave us to rot in this hellhole. See you later!”

Having dressed up by the time he was done, he huffily walked past her and exited the room.

“Nonsense,” he muttered to himself as he made his way out onto the compound, heading to his workplace. “That woman can sit on her hands and wait for God to pour coins down from heaven if she wants. As for me, I’ll work for what I eat, and whatever is due me, I will fight to get it! I didn’t kill those Japanese soldiers and watch other gallant men die on the battlefield so I just settle for all these unfulfilled promises. I will get what is due me. I will! So help me God!”

Hmmm, that’s definitely one unhappy ex-serviceman. I don’t think he and his wife will be getting along, with the different mindsets they have…