Cape Coast, March 6, GNA - Contingents of security personnel, school children, students and voluntary organisations on Friday marched at the Cape Coast Jubilee Park to observe the Independence Day Celebration in the Central Region.

Led, by the Parade Commander, Captain George Oduro of the 64 Regiment, the contingents made up of the Police, Fire, Immigration, Prisons and the Army, together with the voluntary organisations and school children marched impressively to the admiration of the public who turned up in their numbers to watch. Also in attendance were chiefs, queen mothers, heads of departments and other important dignitaries including the Member of Parliament for Cape Coast, Mr Ebo Barton-Odro, who is also the Deputy Minister designate for Justice and Attorney-General's.

In an address, the Minister for Central Region, Madam Ama Benyiwa Doe urged the citizens to join hands with the authorities and work selflessly to help ensure accelerated development for the nation at large and the rural areas in particular. She also called on all Ghanaians to eschew acts of indiscipline such as corruption, malingering and what she described as "wanton destruction" of state property and the environment, as well as indiscriminate waste disposal.

Madam Benyiwa-Doe reiterated that with the right attitude from the citizenry, the country could advance socio-economically to become the beacon of hope for the continent. She paid tribute to the founding fathers of the nation, saying it was their desire that Ghana prospered for the benefit of all, and gave the assurance that her administration will leave no stone unturned to assist fishermen and farmers in the region to bring about "the change we all yearned for".