Thirty Contingents of the Security Services and the Ghana Education Service (GES), under the Command of Captain Albert Kakra Addison of the Ghana Navy, mounted an outstanding parade to mark Ghana's 47th Independence Anniversary, on Saturday.

After the inspection of the Parade by President John Agyekum Kufuor, eight contingents from the Ghana Armed Forces followed the Mass Band with a special march in triangular formation.

The Arrow Head formation is said to symbolise the preparedness of the Ghana Armed Forces to defend the nation at all times.

From initial slow and short steps, which strategically transformed into long quick ones, the contingents from the Police, Prisons, Customs, Immigration, Fire and the Education Services followed them, saluting the President on reaching the dais.

Before taking the salute, President Kufuor, who was accompanied by the Ministers of Education, Defence and the Interior, with the Chief of the Defence Staff and the Inspector-General of Police as his ceremonial guards, to inspect the contingents, lit the perpetual flame. The flame symbolises the spirit of Independence to remind Ghanaians of their responsibility to keep the spirit alive and to rekindle their commitment to the achievement of total political and socio-economic independence.

The contingents, dressed in smart and colourful ceremonial outfits, received cheers and applause from the excited crowd as they marched past.

Their pace was aided by well-played tunes from the Mass Band of the Security Services, supported by the GES Metro School and Brigade Bands. The Band was under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel S.P. Ebonyi.

The GES contingents were selected from Ablekuma North, Osu Klottey and Kpeshie Sub-Metros, 5 Garrison Education Unit, New Page School, Sam Preparatory and Junior Secondary School and Harvard College.

Also in attendance were the Kaneshie Secondary Technical School, Sacred Heart Technical Institute, St John's Grammar School as well as the Cadet Groups from the Police Depot J.S.S, Accra Academy, Labone and the St Mary's Secondary Schools.

A striking feature of this year's Parade was the display of various types of armoured vehicles, which were watched with awe and admiration. In the spirit of good neighbourliness, a Togolese Delegation was at the Independence Square, which was adorned with decorations in national colours of red gold green and black.

The cultural touch to the event was not only portrayed by the presence of chiefs and some middle-aged people, who attended the event in their splendid Kente outfits and gold jewellery but also by performances of drum appellation and a Dangbe dance, "Lafa" choreographed for social occasions.

The usual fly past by aircrafts emitting the national colours from the North to the South synchronising the booming of 21-gun- salute from a Ghana Navy ship on the Gulf of Guinea, was, however, missing today. The flight was cancelled because of poor visibility problems caused by the weather.

The ceremony ended with the National Anthem of Ghana to enforce a sense of patriotism and good neighbourliness after a yell of "Chooboi" hailing Ghana.

The First Lady, Theresa Kufuor, Vice President Aliu Mahama, with his spouse Ramatu, Council of State Chairman Professor Alex Kwapong, Speaker of Parliament Peter Ala Adjetey and Chief Justice Mr George Kingsley Acquah were at the ceremony.

Also present were Ministers of State, Members of Parliament and public officials The Theme for the Celebration is, "Discipline, Tolerance and Honesty - Essential Qualities for Deepening Democracy in Ghana."