Students and pupils asked to eschew violent demonstrations
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Abdallah Abubakari, took the salute during the 59th Independence Day Parade held at the Jubilee Park in Tamale and advised the students and pupils to eschew all violent demonstrations and waywardness, as well as sexual promiscuity and drug abuse.
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He advised them to focus on their studies to enable them to become useful and responsible citizens for the country in future.
Mr Abubakari also urged the feuding parties in the various chieftaincy disputes in the region to use dialogue instead of violence to settle their differences.
The regional minister pledged the government’s commitment to invest in the youth of the country and said those in the region must take advantage of the revamped Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and enrol to acquire employable skills to earn a decent living.
Thirty-six basic and senior high schools (SHSs), as well as eight contingents made up of personnel from the Ghana Armed Forces, the Police, Prisons, Immigration, Customs and the cadet corps from various SHSs and some members of voluntary associations took part in the parade under the command of Squadron K. B. Banson from the Ghana Air Force.
From Bolga, Vincent Amenuveve reports that 1,200 schoolchildren, including the physically challenged, from 40 schools in the Upper East Region took part in the parade held at the Saint John's Park, also known as the Ramsey Sports Stadium in Bolgatanga.
Seven senior officers and personnel from all the security services, including the Army, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Immigration Service and the Ghana Revenue Authority joined in the colourful ceremony.
In attendance were the new Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Albert Abongo, service commanders, departmental heads and a 15-member delegation from neighbouring Burkina Faso and Togo.
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After the regional minister had inspected the contingent, he went round to exchange pleasantries with the physically challenged.
Emmanuel Modey reports from Wa that a contingent of 167 personnel, including seven officers drawn from the Security Services, and 1,900 schoolchildren, held the parade in Wa.
The security personnel were drawn from the Police, Customs, Division of the Ghana Service, Fire Service, Prisons Service, Senior High Schools, Civil Society and political parties.
The schoolchildren were from first and second cycle institutions as well as cadet corps from the T.I. Ahmadiyya, Islamic Senior High Schools and Wa Technical and Senior High Technical Schools and special schools, with patriotic songs provided by both the students of the University of Development Studies (UDS), Wa campus, and Wa SHS regimental bands.
The salute was jointly taken by the Upper West Regional (UWR) Minister, Alhaji Amin Amidu Sulemani, flanked by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Mr Kwesi Mensah Duku, and the UWR Director of Education, Mr Nelson Aborigia.
Alhaji Sulemani urged the youth to take advantage of the numerous opportunities open to them to harness their potential and acquire the necessary skills to enhance the nation’s growth and development.
Meanwhile, the Jackson Park in Koforidua was the usual centre of attraction for the 59th Independence Day parade in the Eastern Region. It attracted hundreds of schoolchildren from both first and second cycle schools, civil society and voluntary organisations, representatives of political parties and members of the security services, reports George Folley from Koforidua.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Miss Mavis Ama Frimpong, in an address, appealed to the people to be patient with the government because it was on course to deliver its promises to enhance the development of the country.
She called for peace and unity among Ghanaians, especially as this year is an election one, and urged political parties to lead the crusade for a peaceful general election by working together to sustain the peace.
Tim Dzamboe reports from Ho that the 59th Independence Day anniversary was marked in Ho with a parade of security forces and primary pupils drawn from 20 basic schools, 10 senior high schools and a vocational institute.
Eight contingents drawn from the Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Police Service, 66th Artillery Regiment, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Service and the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) also took part in the parade under the command of Captain Sara Suraj of the 66th Artillery Regiment.
There were also a Taekwondo display and awards of certificates to pupils who excelled in a competition organised in commemoration of the anniversary on the theme: “Investing in the Youth for Ghana’s Transformation”.
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The Volta Regional Minister, Helen Adjoa Ntoso, said the theme had brought into sharp focus the challenges facing the youth and the need for remedial measures to save the situation in the interest of the nation’s future.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Eric Opoku, urged Ghanaians to shed off what divided them and concentrate on the many issues that united them as a nation and work together to accelerate the progress made so far as they worked to transform the country, Kwame Asiedu Marfo reports from Sunyani.
The parade, which was formed by six contingents of the security personnel, 2,281 schoolchildren from 58 schools and five student cadet corps, was graced by traditional authorities who wore beautiful regalia.
Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor reports from the Jubilee Park in Kumasi that the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Alexander John Ackon, stressed the need to harness the skills and energies of the youth for national development, when he addressed the parade.
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He said the youth were like healthy seeds and the investments the country put in their lives the water and nurturing required for the seed to germinate and bear fruits.
He stated that there was the need "for us as a nation, to invest more in our youth for national development and growth. Countries which utilise their youth in the right direction developed since the energy and brightness of thier minds act as kinetic energy that propels the growth of the country. "
From Cape Coast, Shirley Asiedu-Addo reports that hundreds turned out promptly at the Victoria Park in Cape Coast to mark the Independence Day anniversary, despite a rainfall.
The parade of about 1,500 people included contingents from the Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service, the Prisons Service and the Immigration Service, as well as over 800 pupils and students from the primary, junior and senior high schools and five school cadets.
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Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah reports from Tarkwa that 1,470 students, pupils and security personnel participated in the anniversary march.
The Fiaseman Senior High School Band provided music for the march past.