years stewardship, President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday paid
homage to people whose sweat and toil gave Ghana political
independence from British colonial rule.
"Today I pay homage to the first President of Ghana, Dr Kwame
Nkrumah and his colleagues from the United Gold Coast Convention who
in 1947 launched the last phase of the process towards independence."
Addressing thousands of people who thronged the Independence
Square to mark 50 years of Ghana's independence, he paid tribute to
J.B. Danquah, Paa Grant, Edward Akufo-Addo, William Ofori-Atta and Ako
Adjei, who initiated the process of political emancipation.
Digging down to history he listed giants of the Danquah-Busia and
Nkrumaist traditions, which had shaped the political history of Ghana.
" But above all, let us give thanks and praise for the many
Ghanaians throughout the years who have worked anonymously and often
without reward to make our nation what it is today."
President Kufuor singled out his colleague heads of state
including the Special Guest, President Olusegun Obasanjo for joining
Ghana to celebrate the big day.
" I am sure you will agree with me that it is a celebration not
only for Ghana but also for the whole of Africa. For March 6, 1957
changed the outlook of our Continent and its status and role in the
world forever.
"The African on the Continent, who for centuries had been
violated and subjugated through the Slave Trade and Colonialism. That
fateful day succeeded in breaking asunder, the chains of bondage.
Today therefore is as much Ghana's celebration as it is for the rest
of Africa."
Every space at the Independence Square was adorned with the
national colours and filled to capacity by cheering citizens and
non-citizens alike, some of whom gave the security personnel hard time
as they surged to the parade grounds to have a full view of the
historic moment.
Chiefs, politicians, journalists and people from all walks of
life were seen clad in the national colour, kente or smocks apparel
and waving miniature flags.
There was deafening shouts as the Police Constabulary escorted
President Kufuor to the Square.
The smiling President waved enthusiastically to the crowd and
proceeded to inspect the Guard of Honour mounted by the security
agencies and lit the Perpetual flame.
At Ho, the immaculate strides by Chief Inspector J.W Ansah, the band
marshal set the tone for a splendid parade by 47 contingents to mark
the 50th Anniversary of Ghana's independence at the just completed
Jubilee Square in Ho.
It was perhaps the most patronized Independence Day parade in Ho
in recent memory.
Captain Nii Laryea Odumang, of the 66th Artillery Regiment
commanded the parade made of contingents from 41 schools and colleges,
the Military, Police, Customs, Prisons Fire and Immigration Services.
By 0800 hours the parade grounds was jammed with people, with
some invited guests seated even before tags identifying seating
positions could be fixed.
People in the melee virtually fell over each other in an attempt
to have a good viewing position, with many perched on top of vehicles
parked around and in other precarious positions.
Others climbed on ladders mounted on top of an Electricity
Company of Ghana (ECG) pickup, while many others watched from the
upper corridors of the office buildings of the nearby offices of the
Volta Regional House of Chiefs.
Attempts by the security to cordon off areas behind the dais
where dignitaries were seated failed because of their sheer numbers.
Mr Kofi Dzamesi, Volta Regional Minister took the salute and
later read the President's Jubilee anniversary address.
The Minister earlier cut the sod to formally open the Jubilee
Square and a special Jubilee monument, built in record time.
He also gave out prizes to winners of the march past in the
Primary, JSS, SSS and Cadet Corps categories.
Also in the Ketu District on Tuesday thousands of people took
part in parades to mark Ghana's Jubilee celebrations at more than a
dozen centres.
Security agencies and school children took part in the parade at
the Saint Paul Secondary School at Tokor near Denu.
Attendance was heavy with many donning dresses made in the
national colours and carrying miniature national flags.
Shops remained closed and human activity at the otherwise busy
Ghana-Togo frontier at Aflao visibly low, with the few security
personnel on duty having little to do.The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu
11, on Tuesday joined a parade of the security agencies, school
children and voluntary organizations to mark the Ghana's golden
jubilee anniversary celebrations at the Paa Joe stadium in the Kwame
Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi.
The Asantehene, dressed in a splendid and uniquely designed Ghana @
50 kente cloth, received a tumultuous welcome from thousands of
spectators who had gathered at the stadium in their Ghana colours, as
he stepped out of his limousine and walked majestically onto the dais.
The parade, formed by about 2000 contingents made up of the military,
police, CEPS, Immigration Service, Fire Service, GPRTU, children from
first and second cycle schools, market women, trade associations, KMA
city guards among others, was under the command of Captain K. Pabi.
Service commanders in the region, heads of public institutions,
chiefs, queens and assembly members, the clergy and Imams, teachers
and other opinion leaders also attended the parade.
Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister, his
deputy, Mr Osei Assibey Antwi, KMA Chief Executive, Madam Patricia
Appiagyei and Mr Asonaba Dapaah, Member of Council of State, as well
as some leading members of political parties in the region also
attended.
Addressing the contingents on behalf of the President, after
reviewing the parade, Mr Owusu-Ansah, commended the founding fathers
of the nation for their selfless sacrifices during the struggle for
the nation's independence.
He appealed to the youth to stay in the country and use their
exuberance to support the development agenda of the nation, saying the
future of the country and the African continent depended on the
strenuous efforts of the youth.
The concern of the children read by pupils from the Opoku Ware basic
schools, appealed to the President to adequately motivate Ghanaian
teachers by providing them deserving salaries and other conditions of
service, to enable them provide quality education to the Ghanaian
children.
The children also appealed to the government to ensure that democracy
was deepened in the country to promote peace and unity among the
people.
They commended the government for the introduction of the capitation
grant and the school feeding programme, but appealed to the government
to increase classroom blocks to accommodate all the pupils.
Awards were presented to school children and other voluntary
organizations who, performed creditably in the March Pass.
Togo and Burkina Faso on Tuesday pledged to foster unity with Ghana
through sister relations between the northern sector of their
respective countries and the Upper East Region. The Governor of
Nahouri, Burkina Faso, Mr. Cornaille Blaise and the Paramount Chief of
Sankansi in Togo, Nagnango Abulaye who represented their countries at
the Golden Jubilee celebrations in Bolgatanga said Ghana was the pace
setter in democracy, peace and good Governance in the sub region and
they could learn much from working closely with her.
Mr. Boniface Gambila, Upper East Regional Minister recounted the
works of great people from the Region who had contributed much to the
development of the Region and the nation. He commended people like
S.D. Dombo, C.K Tededam and the first lady Member of Parliament (MP)
in the Region the, Hajia Agnes Salamatu MP for chiana and among
others.
He asked the youth in the Region to emulate the past great
heroes.Mr. Gambila read the Independence Anniversary Address of the
President, Mr. John Agekum Kufuor, which recounted the struggle for
Independence, and the role Ghana played as one of the first countries
in the sub region for the independence of the rest of Africa.
The President exhorted the youth to endeavour to stay in the
country to contribute their quota to the development of the nation
instead of traveling to other countries at the risk of their lives to
look for employment."Indeed this continent now provides a quick avenue
to success financially and emotionally than anywhere else. The future
of this continent is yours, it is your heritage and you must stay and
be part of building the well governed, economically vibrant nations as
we all aspire to", he added.
The parade was attended by six contingents from the security
agencies including the Army, Police, Fire Service, Immigration
Service, Customs Excise and Preventive Service and the Prisons Service
led by Lieutenant Hadza Savior of the Army.
Fifty-three schools and voluntary organizations also took part in
the match with the Regional Minister taking the salute.
At Cape Coast, more than 300 security personnel including contingents
from the Ghana Police, Fire, Prisons, Immigration and the Ghana Army
as well as cadet corps from seven secondary schools took part in the
50th Anniversary parade attended by a large number of people from all
walks of life at the renovated Victoria Park at Cape Coast.In
attendance at the colourful parade, which saw people exhibiting all
kinds of the anniversary paraphernalia was the Prisons Central Band
from Accra which provided music.School children from five schools,
personnel from the regional NADMO office, market women, wives of
Prisons officers and the Boys and Girls Brigade also participated in
the colourful parade.
At exactly 8.50, the Regional Minister Nana Ato Arthur together
with the Regional Police Commander, Mrs Rose Atinga-Bio and the
regional director of education, Mrs Justina Torjagbo inspected the
parade immediately after the Christian, Muslim and traditional prayers
were said.
About 430 school children selected from the municipality and
dressed in the national colours, entertained the crowd with a
beautiful gymnastic display.
Nana Arthur later congratulated the region on the anniversary
celebration and called for unity amongst all Ghanaians after which he
read the President's Anniversary address to the people and was also
assisted by the Omanhene Osabarima Kwesi Atta II and Mrs Torjagbo to
cut the Anniversary cake.
06 March 07
