The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11, on Tuesday joined a parade of the security agencies, school children and voluntary organizations to mark the Ghana's golden jubilee anniversary celebrations at the Paa Joe stadium in the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi.

The Asantehene, dressed in a splendid and uniquely designed Ghana @ 50 kente cloth, received a tumultuous welcome from thousands of spectators who had gathered at the stadium in their Ghana colours, as he stepped out of his limousine and walked majestically onto the dais.

The parade, formed by about 2000 contingents made up of the military, police, CEPS, Immigration Service, Fire Service, GPRTU, children from first and second cycle schools, market women, trade associations, KMA city guards among others, was under the command of Captain K. Pabi. Service commanders in the region, heads of public institutions, chiefs, queens and assembly members, the clergy and Imams, teachers and other opinion leaders also attended the parade.

Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister, his deputy, Mr Osei Assibey Antwi, KMA Chief Executive, Madam Patricia Appiagyei and Mr Asonaba Dapaah, Member of Council of State, as well as some leading members of political parties in the region also attended. Addressing the contingents on behalf of the President, after reviewing the parade, Mr Owusu-Ansah, commended the founding fathers of the nation for their selfless sacrifices during the struggle for the nation's independence.

He appealed to the youth to stay in the country and use their exuberance to support the development agenda of the nation, saying the future of the country and the African continent depended on the strenuous efforts of the youth.

The concern of the children read by pupils from the Opoku Ware basic schools, appealed to the President to adequately motivate Ghanaian teachers by providing them deserving salaries and other conditions of service, to enable them provide quality education to the Ghanaian children.

The children also appealed to the government to ensure that democracy was deepened in the country to promote peace and unity among the people. They commended the government for the introduction of the capitation grant and the school feeding programme, but appealed to the government to increase classroom blocks to accommodate all the pupils. Awards were presented to school children and other voluntary organizations who, performed creditably in the March Pass.