The Chief of Staff and Chairman of the National Planning Committee, Kwadwo Mpiani has asked Ghanaians not to concentrate more on the money involved in preparing for the country's 50th anniversary, but "think of the way of showcasing the country to the world".

Briefing the press on the country's 50th anniversary celebration, the Kwadwo Mpiani said the fact that the country lacks resources does not mean the country should make its anniversary a laughing stock.

"When nations spend millions of dollars to bid for the right to stage international sporting events, it is because they want to be able to showcase their nations to the world", he said.

He noted that the US$20 million earmarked for the celebrations would not be for merry-making but enhancing developmental projects and also building monuments and other physical structures that become landmarks which can be traced to the event.

"In the United Kingdom during the jubilee year of the Queen, a new underground line was built to make travel in London easier for commuters. In the millennium year, special projects were undertaken all around the UK, and in London, the London Eye was put up.

It was meant to last for only two years, but it is still up and has now become the most popular tourist attraction in the city", he said.

Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani gave another example when he said, about forty years ago, Ghana's first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah seized the opportunity of the staging of the OAU conference here in Ghana to build structures that today serve as our parliament, State Banquet Hall and Job 600.

"The fiftieth anniversary of the first sub-Saharan country to gain independence should therefore provide a great opportunity for our nation to be showcased", he said.

He added: "Ghana is going to be in the news for the whole year. We will get visitors of all kinds and from everywhere around the world, if we had money, we should think big and undertake the projects that would become great landmarks. The benefits will be many and varied and we the citizens will be enjoying those benefits long after the jubilee year is over".

This, Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani said, has propelled the government to draw up a comprehensive programme of events and activities that both celebrate our 50th birthday and also leave legacies that will serve the needs of those who will need to guide this country to its centenary year in the coming 50years.

Principal activities for the celebrations include the following; events organized around 12 selected monthly themes, rehabilitation and renewal of core infrastructure, sanitizing and sprucing up the country, execution of legacy projects, procurement of essential logistics for celebrations, improving hospitality and publications and publicity.

Yesterday's programme started with a minute's silence in commemoration of the 97th birthday of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first president.