Regions observe Independence Day
The 57th Independence anniversary celebration was observed throughout the country. Schoolchildren defied a heavy downpour and took part in parades at the various regional and district capitals in the southern sector of the country to mark the day.
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At the celebration, which had the theme, “Building a better and prosperous Ghana through patriotism and national unity,” all the ministers, MCEs and DCEs called for unity and the need for Ghanaians to rededicate themselves to the tenets “that inspired our forefathers to fight for independence.”
At Abokobi in the Greater Accra Region, about 960 students from both basic and senior high schools gathered at the forecourt of the Ga East Municipal Assembly to celebrate the day.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) Officer, Mr John Kwao Sackey, urged Ghanaians to rededicate themselves to the struggle to liberate the country from the claws of indiscipline, especially at a time when the efforts to align the economy in the global sphere was challenged by the depreciation of the cedi, reports Severious Kale-Dery.
He announced that the municipality would soon have its own public senior high school after the Ministry of Education had approved the site and size of land allocated for the school, adding, “It is my pleasure to inform you that Ga East is a beneficiary of the first 50 batch of 200 SHSs to be built, for which sod has been cut this week by His Excellency.”
At La Nkwantanang-Madina, the heavy downpour could not deter the 27 contingents, made up of students from basic, junior and senior high schools from participating in the celebration.
The Municipal Chief Executive Officer, Mr Franklin P. Anku, said the journey through 57 years had not been easy, but despite the obstacles and setbacks, some remarkable progress had been made.
In Sunyani, Kwame Asiedu Marfo reports that students and pupils drawn from basic and second cycle institutions as well as cadet corps from the institutions, in the Sunyani Municipality, constituted the parade at the Jubilee Park in Sunyani to commemorate the day in the Brong Ahafo Region.
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Also on parade were eight contingents of security personnel drawn from the Ghana Armed Forces, Police Service, Prison Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Immigration Service and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority.
Traditional authorities from the region led by the President of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, and the Paramount Chief of the Yeji Traditional Area, Pemampem Yaw Kagbrese V graced the occasion.
Addressing the parade, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, announced that the region would be the proud beneficiary of five schools under the first batch of 50 community senior high schools to be constructed.
From Koforidua, George Folley reports that various contingents defied the rain and participated fully in the almost two-hour parade to mark the anniversary at the Jackson Park.
The contingents, under the command of Major Bernard Baah–Acheamfour and inspected by the outgoing Regional Minister, Madam Helen Adjoa Ntoso, were drawn from the various security agencies, basic and senior high schools and voluntary organisations.
In an address, Madam Ntoso called on Ghanaians to be united in spite of their differences.
From Anyinam, Eastern Region, A. Kofoya-Tetteh reports that about 1,000 primary, junior and senior high schools took part in the march past, with the District Chief Executive, Mr Emmanuel Atta Twum, taking the salute.
Mr Atta Twum advised the gathering, especially the youth, to be patriotic and refrain from all negative tendencies that would ruin their lives and draw back the district’s development.
He, on behalf of the assembly, awarded full scholarship to two students who were adjudged the district’s best at last year’s BECE for their senior high education. The two, who were also presented with a citation, were Miss Agnes Sarpong, a former pupil of the Anyinam A.M.E. Zion JHS, and Master Kinsford Kusi, formerly of the Anyinam R/C JHS.
Shirley Asiedu-Addo & Zadok Kwame Gyesi report from Cape Coast that the outgoing Central Regional Minister, Dr Samuel Sarpong, used the occasion to appeal to Ghanaians to be disciplined in all their endeavours.
He expressed worry over the increasing acts of indiscipline in the country, which was eating deep into all areas of life including health, education, and on the roads.
He noted that people, under the pretence of political colouration, perpetuated all sorts of indiscipline acts with the belief that their political parties would support them when they were made to face the laws.
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Contingents from the security agencies including the Ghana Immigration, Police, Prisons and Fire Services, and cadets from second cycle institutions formed the parade.
Gilbert Mawuli Agbey also reports from Gomoa Afransil that 28 basic schools and five senior high schools took part in the march past to commemorate the anniversary held at the D/A Basic School Park.
The ceremony was, however, brought to an abrupt end due to a heavy downpour when the march past had just begun.
Addressing the gathering before the downpour, the Gomoa East District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Isaac Kingsley Ahunu-Armah, said the task of nation building had become more complex and in reality, the government alone could not shoulder the burden of developing localities and providing the necessary services to Ghanaians.
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From Wa, Emmanuel Modey reports that a contingent of 200 men and officers drawn from the Security Services and 1,680 schoolchildren took part in the parade held at the Wa Jubilee Park, under the leadership of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwaku Bempah.
The salute was taken by the Dr Ephraim Avea Nsoh, the outgoing Upper West Regional Minister who read the President's speech and expressed an emotional gratitude to the chiefs and people for their support and commitment during his brief stay in the region.
Donald Ato Dapatem & Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor report from Jubilee Park, Kumasi that the outgoing Ashanti Regional Minister, Eric Opoku, has decried what he described as a ‘worrying development in our society’ where people used the media platform to hurl insults at leading members of society.
The practice, he said, sent wrong signals to the youth, particularly when the insults were directed at the presidency “which is the embodiment of our national image.”
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Mr Opoku advised people who had the opportunity to share their views on such platforms to “tame their tongues” and treat each other with decorum.
In all, over 1,500 personnel dawn from the security services, senior high and primary schools, and some voluntary organisations took part in the parade to mark the day.
From Ho, Tim Dzamboe reports that several hundreds of schoolchildren and security personnel defied a rainy weather and thronged the Jubilee Park to mark the 57th Independence Day celebration.
Eight contingents comprising of 260 men and women drawn from the 66 Artillery Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), Ghana Fire and Rescue Services and Ghana Prisons Service formed the parade.
In addition, a total of 1,862 students and cadet corps drawn from 14 primary schools, 14 junior high schools and eight senior high schools under the command of Major Edward Sarpong Appiah of the 66 Artillery Regiment marched past the dais.
Addressing the parade, the outgoing Volta Regional Minister, Mr Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, asked Ghanaians to put the nation first, irrespective of their differences and prejudices and let the spirit of loyalty, honesty, commitment, dedication, transparency, accountability and love for country and fellow citizens be their guide.
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From Sekondi/Takoradi, Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu & Andrews Tetteh report that more than 300 military contingents, including the Navy, the Ghana Airforce, the Army, personnel from the Prisons and the Police services, students from both first and second cycle schools, as well as market women took part in the parade to mark the day.
Six students who distinguished themselves in the West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Western Region were given awards, with Ms Miriam Queenly Gad being awarded best student, WASSCE category, and Ms Kate Durowaah being awarded best student BECE category.
In his speech, the Western Regional Minister, Mr Ebenezer Addo, said the country had won political independence for itself, what was left was economic independence to make it better and prosperous and indicated that to achieve this, Ghanaians needed to mobilise and harness all the country's available resources and work upon them to satisfy the nation's needs.
Vincent Amenuveve reports from Bolgatanga that 2,700 schoolchildren from 75 schools, made up of the primary, junior and senior high schools took part in the parade which was held at the Ramseyer Sports Stadium in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region.
The security services comprising the Military, Prisons, Fire, Police, Ghana Immigration Service and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority also took part in the parade.
Addressing the contingent, the outgoing Upper East Regional Minister, Alhaji Limuna Muniru, pointed out the need for DCEs to help improve the human resource base of the region through the promotion of quality education to reduce poverty in the area.
A delegation from Togo and Burkina Faso who took part in the celebration commended Ghana for her leading role in maintaining peace and security in the West African sub-region since she gained independence 57 years ago.