GHANA: VOLUNTEERS CROWD ACCRA RECRUITING OFFICE TO FIGHT IAN SMITH REGIME IN RHODESIA.

Record ID: 230347

  • Title: GHANA: VOLUNTEERS CROWD ACCRA RECRUITING OFFICE TO FIGHT IAN SMITH REGIME IN RHODESIA.
  • Date: 30th November 1965
  • Summary: SCENES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE ACCRA RECRUITING OFFICE. Initials RM/S/WH/OS Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 15th December 1965 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ACCRA, GHANA
  • Country: Ghana
  • Reuters ID: LVA80K25J3QASOW2MXHD6321ATAC
  • Story Text: RECRUITING BEGAN IN ACCRA YESTERDAY (MONDAY) FOR GHANAIAN VOLUNTEERS TO FIGHT ALONGSIDE AFRICANS IN RHODESIA AGAINST THE REGIME OF MR. IAN SMITH. THE GHANAIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENCE SAYS MORE THAT 3,000 VOLUNTEERS SIGNED ON DURING THE FIRST DAY.

    THOUSANDS OF EAGER VOLUNTEERS PACKED THE RECRUITING AREA AND, AT TIMES, MADE THE TASK OF SIGNING UP ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. WHEN THE CROWD FINALLY GOT OUT OF HAND AN OFFICER ANNOUNCED THAT RECRUITING WAS OVER FOR THE DAY AND THOSE THAT HAD SIGNED UP MARCHED OFF TO BEGIN THEIR TRAINING IMMEDIATELY.

    THE YOUNG GHANAIANS WERE ANSWERING A CALL FROM PRESIDENT NKRUMAH TO PREPARE FOR WHAT HE CALLED A "MILITARY EVENTUALITY" IN RHODESIA. PRESIDENT NKRUMAH ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT ALL MILITARY LEAVE HAD BEEN CANCELLED BECAUSE OF THE RHODESIAN SITUATION AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS SEEKING POWERS FOR MOBILISATION.

    EX-SERVICEMEN HAVE ALSO BEEN GATHERING IN ACCRA, FOLLOWING A REQUEST FROM THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE GHANA LEGION FOR THE EX-SERVICEMEN TO TURN UP WITH THEIR DISCHARGE BOOKS AT THEIR NEAREST LEGION OFFICE. ABOUT 800 VETERANS HAD REGISTERED IN ACCRA ALONE BY YESTERDAY.

    PRESIDENT NKRUMAH EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE THAT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER AFRICAN STATES, GHANA WOULD BE ABLE TO DEFEAT THE IAN SMITH REGIME IF IT THREATENED ANY AFRICAN STATE.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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