Accra, March 6, GNA - The Colossus of Ghanaian politics since 2001, President John Agyekum Kufuor on Thursday reviewed his last Independence Day Anniversary Parade as Chief Executive of corporate Ghana. He acknowledged his emotional difficulty in reviewing his farewell and the 51st Independence Day Parade mounted by the security services and school children at the Independence Square, where his presidency began in 2001.
"It is with some emotion that I am reviewing this parade for the last time as the Head of State and Government.
"Next year, God willing, I shall be watching the proceedings from the stands. Naturally, I am moved. I should say nonetheless, that I am grateful for the opportunity to have served this nation as President for two consecutive terms."
His baritone voice was captured on the public address systems expressing his gratitude to God and Ghanaians for having the opportunity to serve Ghana.
"By the grace of God and by the wish of the people, who exercised their right of choice under the national Constitution." The Head of State, however, bid the farewell in grand style. He was chauffeured to the square in a dazzling black Mercedes Benz Limousine accompanied by stern looking personnel from the Police Constabulary and other security details at 0830 hours.
Spotting a dark suit and waving to the cheering crowd, President Kufuor mounted the rostrum and took the National salute also for the last time as Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces. He inspected the parade in the company of the Minister of Defence, Mr Albert Kan Dapaah and other security heads and repeated the tradition associated with the anniversary by lighting the Perpetual Flame for the "Unknown Soldier".
President Kufuor joined a host of dignitaries including the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama at the dais where he stood tall like a colossus to review the one -and- half -hour parade.
The security services started the parade with the trooping of colours after which, they set the parked square agog by marching in dexterity to carve the Akan word 'Ayekoo', meaning well done under the heaviness of their neatly polished boots.
Pupils from the Labone Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Preparatory School, Accra treated the crowd to a brief spell of gymnastic display followed by a cultural display.
The calm atmosphere bolstered by the nearby Atlantic Ocean was shaken to the foundation when a barrage of mortar fire was fired by the security services that displayed their lethal weaponry and equipment to assure Ghanaians of their preparedness to defend sovereign Ghana from internal and external aggression.
The Ghana Air Force dominated the air. The newly acquired Chinese jets flew past spewing smoke in the national colours while a Ghana Navy vessel guarded the coast to stop any aggressor from the sea. President Kufuor later decorated heads of the security services with Golden Jubilee medals that would cover all personnel who were at post on March 6, 2007.
The Independence Square had become the cradle for newly installed leaders of Ghana where their departure from the political scene are heralded with fanfare.
It was the same square where President Kufuor stood on January 7, 2001, adorned in the traditional Kente cloth and waved at a large crowd that had fallen in love with his political catch phrase, "Property owing democracy" and "Zero Tolerance for Corruption." Eight years down the line, he used the same venue to bid Ghanaians goodbye but not without a word of advice.
President Kufuor's asked the people not count their losses during the past Military coup d'etats that disrupted the democratic governance of the country but should count the good lessons as well. He asked the citizenry to strive to protect the enviable legacy the country was enjoying now, stressing: "We know from history that many a nation experience similar difficult beginnings."
Descending to the political scene through election, President Kufuor appealed to the citizenry to play their respective roles, individually, collectively and responsibly to make the electoral process a resounding success. "Fellow citizens and the youth of Ghana...I wish all of you a happy 51st Independence Anniversary." 06 March 08