Mr. Alexander John Ackon, the Ashanti Regional Minister, has implored the citizenry to demonstrate a high sense of integrity and patriotism in their respective endeavours.

He said “it takes a committed people to building a strong nation,” and advised well-meaning Ghanaians to cultivate the right attitude towards development issues to help transform the economy.

Mr. Ackon, who was addressing a parade of school children, security agencies and civil society organisations to mark Ghana’s 59th Independence Anniversary at the Jubilee Park in Kumasi on Sunday, was emphatic that “as a people, our destiny lies in our own hands.”

He challenged Ghanaians to emulate the selflessness with which the founding fathers fought to liberate the nation from colonial rule.

“But for their resilience, unity of purpose and endurance, Ghana would not had gained its freedom,” he observed.

“The challenge for us today is to continue from where they left off and this demands all hands on deck to successfully pursue our development aspirations,” the Minister noted.

Mr. Ackon assured that the government was focused on alleviating poverty and also creating wealth amongst the people through the implementation of pro-poor policies and programmes.

The parade was under the command of Captain Edward Anane Lumor of the Fourth Infantry Brigade of the Ghana Armed Forces.