Accra, March 6, GNA - Parades of the security services and school children were held throughout the country on Sunday to mark the 48th Independence.
President John Agyekum Kufuor took the salute at the Independence Square in Accra where the parade of about 900 members of the security services and 500 school children was under the command of Colonel J.D. Prah.
Among those present were the Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama; Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes; Chief Justice Mr Justice George Kingsley Acquah, Ministers of State, Service Commanders, chiefs and the general public.
The theme for the celebration is: "Sustaining Democracy in Ghana: The Bedrock for Peace And National Unity."

Ghanaians asked to make the nation's democratic governance work

Mamponteng (Ash), March 06, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Sunday stressed the need for all Ghanaians to help make the nation's democratic governance work.
He said through sustained democracy, "we can build a peaceful, prosperous and united country and we must succeed, for if we fail, the happy prosperous future we are all searching for will continue to be a mirage".
President Kufuor said this in a speech read on his behalf by Alhaji Akwasi Yeboah, acting Kwabre District Chief Executive, at a parade of first and second cycle schools, workers and voluntary organisation as part of activities to mark the 48th independence anniversary at Mamponteng in the Kwabre District.
He said democracy could be sustained to promote peace and unity when all individuals, groups and organisations subsume their sectional and parochial interests under the overall national good. The President called on the youth to imbue in them the spirit of discipline and hard work.
He stressed the need for them to take advantage of all the opportunities, which the government and their parents have placed at their disposal, to prepare to face the challenges of the future.
"I have no doubt that if our young ones accept this challenge they will become productive and responsible citizens to whom the current generation of adults will pass the key to the sustenance of good governance and the democratic way of life that our nation has chosen to live".

School kids at Mpraeso hold march past to mark anniversary

Mpraeso, March 6, GNA - Over 1,300 pupils and students from public and private basic schools, second cycle and voluntary organizations took part in a march past to mark the country's 48th Independent Day Anniversary at the Mpraeso Brighton's park in the Kwahu South District. The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Raymond Osafo Djan, and the District Director of Education, Mr Alfred Osei, took the salute at the march past.
In an address read on his behalf, President J. A. Kufuor called on institutions and the populace to get involved in the country's democratisation process to enhance the nation's development. He said democracy could only be sustained to become the bedrock of peace and national unity when all key stakeholders play their constitutional roles effectively.
The President said the government used its first term of office to lay effective foundation in the five priority areas of infrastructure development, modernized agriculture, enhanced social service delivery, emphasis on education, and health, good governance and private sector development.
He advised school children to take advantage of the opportunity the state and their guardians and parents are providing towards their education and study hard to face the challenges of the future. President Kufuor said if the present young generation accepted the challenge, they would become productive and responsible children to lead the nation in future.
A similar parade was also held at Nkawkaw, the Kwahu West District Capital.

48th independence anniversary marked in Kumasi

Kumasi, March 06, GNA - A parade of security personnel, youth groups, school children and voluntary organisations was held at the Kumasi Sports Stadium on Sunday to mark the 48th independence anniversary.
The occasion was also used to pray for the President, the government and the nation for peace, prosperity and growth of the country.
In an address read by Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, President John Agyekum Kufuor urged Ghanaians to use the occasion to resolve to make the country's democracy work. He said for democracy to thrive, all political institutions and individuals must recognise their constitutional limits and play their defined roles in consonance with the checks and balances inherent in democratic governance.
President Kufuor charged Ghanaian youth to be disciplined and take advantage of all the opportunities that the state, their parents and guardians were placing at their disposal to prepare themselves to face the challenges in the future.
He said if the youth accepted this challenge they would become productive and responsible citizens to whom the current generation of adults would pass the key to the sustenance of good governance and the democratic way of life that the nation had chosen to live. President Kufuor commended the security agencies, the Ghanaian children, teachers and the various groups and associations for participating in the celebrations.
Awards and certificates were presented to schools and groups that excelled in the parade.
The best cadet award went to Yaa Asantewaah Girls Secondary School while the Armed Forces Secondary/Technical School received the best second cycle schools award.
Subin sub-metro schools were adjudged the best in the metro schools awards with the Boys Brigade taking the best youth organisation award. State Experimental School and the Garden City Special School received special awards.

Schools mark Independence Day at Abokobi

Accra, March 6, GNA - President Agyekum Kufuor on Sunday expressed optimism that the pride and enthusiasm students displayed as they saluted the national flag would blossom into deep patriotism that would make them revere, uphold and protect the Constitution throughout their lives.
He said: "I have often marvelled at that sense of nationhood, which must be innate, that they show as they join the security forces for the parade."
President Kufuor said this in a speech read on his behalf by Mrs Elizabeth Amoako, Ga West District Director of Education, at an Independence Day parade held at Abokobi in Accra. Twenty-three schools in the Abokobi-Madina District took part in the parade. They included Living Star School, Frafraha; Taifa Community '3'Primary School; Presbyterian Boys Secondary School, Legon; West Africa Secondary School and Queen of Peace Roman Catholic School. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Antwi Boasiako, Madina Police Commander and Alhaji Amadu Sorogho, Member of Parliament for Ga West District took the salute.
At the Senior Secondary level, West Africa Secondary School emerged first followed by Action Secondary Technical School while Elim Secondary School placed third. Ghana Atomic Energy Commission Junior Secondary School came first in the Junior Secondary School level followed by Queen of Peace JSS and Madina Islamic JSS. For the Primary schools, Presec Staff Primary School emerged first, followed by Taifa Community '3' D/A School and Living Stone School, Frafraha.
They were all presented with certificates and trophies.

Koforidua

Eight security personnel were among 63 casualties recorded at this year's Independence Day anniversary parade mounted by 1,820 school children, security personnel at the Jackson's Park at Koforidua on Sunday.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Yaw Barimah, accompanied by the Eastern Regional Director of Education, Mrs Ewurabena Ahwoi, took the salute during the march past by contingents of the security services, school children and voluntary organizations.
Six security services, six voluntary organizations, 31 basic and second cycle schools and five cadet corps from some second-cycle institutions took part in the march past.
The Eastern Regional Secretary of the Red Cross Society, Mr Kwame Darko-Asumadu, who described the situation as "normal", explained that most of the casualties recorded among the school children could be attributed to the anxiety that characterized the celebration of such occasions.
He said most of the cases were also as a result of over heating and that some of the children did not take in any food before the parade. The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Yaw Barimah, who read the President's Anniversary speech, said to achieve a high level of confidence in the judicial system, the government was working at increasing the number and calibre of judicial personnel.
He said the move was to improve their conditions of service and to furnish them with modern infrastructure to enable the system respond efficiently and promptly to domestic issues and the emerging global demands.
Mr Barimah said the government would also move the nation to the point in the country's democracy, where both Ghanaians and foreigners would feel confident that "justice is within reasonable reach of all."
In the march past competition, Presby Basic Schools came first in the basic school's category, while Koforidua Secondary Technical won the first position in the second cycle category. They received a plague and a certificate.

Ho

Five contingents of the various security services and 36 others representing schools and voluntary organisations took part in the Independence Day parade at the Ho Sports Stadium on Sunday. The Parade was under the command of Major Dominic Dieu-Donne Gbedawo Second In- Command at the 66 Artillery Regiment in Ho, while Mr Kofi Dzamesi, Volta Regional Minister took the salute.
Also on parade were contingents representing the disabled and a Virgins Club made up mainly of girls from first cycle schools in Ho. Mr Dzamesi read the President's anniversary address to the parade, which was laced by a cultural display by the Sokode Ando Junior Secondary School (JSS) and a gymnastic show by Mawuli Primary School. Among the dignitaries present was Togbe Afede XIV, AGbogbomefia of the Asogli State.

Mamponteng

President John Agyekum Kufuor has stressed the need for all Ghanaians to help make the nation's democratic governance work. He said through sustained democracy, "we can build a peaceful, prosperous and united country and we must succeed, for if we fail, the happy prosperous future we are all searching for will continue to be a mirage".
President Kufuor said this in a speech read on his behalf by Alhaji Akwasi Yeboah, acting Kwabre District Chief Executive at a parade of first and second cycle schools, workers and voluntary organisation as part of activities to mark the 48th Independence Anniversary celebration at Mamponteng in the Kwabre District on Sunday.
He said democracy could be sustained to promote peace and unity when all individuals, groups and organisations subsume their sectional and parochial interests under the overall national good. The President called on the youth of this country, especially the young ones to imbue in them the spirit of discipline and hard work.
He stressed the need for them to take advantage of all the opportunities, which the government and their parents have placed at their disposal to prepare them to face the challenges of the future.
"I have no doubt that if our young ones accept this challenge they will become productive and responsible citizens to whom the current generation of adults will pass the key to the sustenance of good governance and the democratic way of life that our nation has chosen to live".

Cape Coast

This year's independence parade held in the Cape Coast municipality was poorly attended without the usual pomp pageantry attached to the celebration.
Apart form the 120 personnel of security agencies and about 500 schools children who were on parade, only a few heads of departments, including the Municipal Chief Executive, Muniru Arafat Nuhu, Omanhene of Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II and regional director of education, Mrs Justina Torgbor, the turn-out of the general public was low.
Food vendors and ice water sellers were disappointed since they could not meet their target, at the St. Augustine's College Park where the parade took place under the theme: "Sustaining democracy in Ghana: the bedrock for peace and national unity."
Some people the GNA spoke to attributed the poor patronage of the celebration to the fact that it was Sunday and many people had left for church service.
In an address read for the President John Agyekum Kufour, the Central Regional Minister, Mr Isaac Edumadze, said democracy can only be sustained to be become the bedrock of peace and national unity, when all key stakeholders such a the constitution, executive, the legislative, judiciary and civil society played their respective constitutional roles effectively.
He said people were more likely to embrace the democratic process and help it to thrive when the rule of law, which is the constitution, was guaranteed and citizens' ownership of, and participation in governance were respected.
He said it was the vision of the government to ensure true democracy to promote peace and unity when all individuals, groups and organisations within the body politics subdue their sectional and parochial interest under the overall national good.
Mr Edumadze said the government was much aware of the roles of the various stakeholders in the dispensation of the democracy and stressed that the government was focusing its attention on a three-pronged strategy of human resource development, private sector development and continued good governance and was hopeful that the nation would embrace the policies and programmes to enhance accelerated growth.
He however, said the government in its bid to enhance development and growth of the nation, had to take some difficult but necessary decisions, citing the recent deregulation of the petroleum sector, but stressed that some measures have been introduced to provide some relief on the full effect of the fuel prices.
He underscored the important role the judiciary play in the nations democracy and announced that the government was working at increasing the number and calibre of judicial personnel to improve conditions of service and to furnish them with the modern infrastructure to enable them respond efficiently and promptly to domestic issues as well as the merging demands of the current global world
On the youth, he said the role they could play to enhance the nation's democracy was to be disciplined and hard-working and asked them to take advantage of the opportunities which the state and their parents and guardians are placing at their disposal to prepare them to face the challenges of the future.
Prizes were presented to students and pupils who excelled in the Independence Day quiz competition.
A legally constituted authority is from God -Chaplain General
Accra, March 6, GNA - All legally constituted authority is from God and Christians should endeavour to respect the authority of the State and the Church, the Chaplain-General of the Police Church, the Reverend B.D. Quansah has said.
Reverend Quansah, who delivering the sermon at the Church on Sunday, said in selecting leaders God unlike men, looked at the inner man and not outward appearances hence the need to respect constituted authority.
Turning to caring for the disabled in society, the Chaplain General urged Christians to be charitable to the disabled just as Jesus Christ showed concern and healed them.
He appealed to the Government to put in place measures to cater for the disabled and mentioned the difficulties they went through whenever they wanted to gain access to public buildings and called for changes in the structure of public places to cater for the needs of the physically challenged.
The Congregation offered prayers for the nation on her 48th Independence anniversary.

Tema

Mr Samuel Evans Ashong Narh, Tema Municipal Chief Executive on Sunday said the Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA) is making efforts to assist all basic schools in the municipality to establish computer laboratories to enable the children catch up with the computer world. This is in view of the fact that Communication Information Technology has become a compulsory subject in the senior secondary schools.
He stated this at this year's Independence Parade held at the Tema Sports Stadium, which was participated by 1,560 school children from public and private schools as well as voluntary organisations. He also read the President's address.
In attendance were representatives of the security agencies, Members of Parliament, chiefs and heads of the various establishments in Tema.
The MCE however, appealed to Parents-Teacher-Associations to start some programme aimed at equipping their schools with some computers since the TMA alone cannot shoulder the responsibilities.
He said in 2004, the TMA spent 5.9 billion cedis on the improvement of educational infrastructure in the municipality as well as the sponsoring of teacher-trainee students.
In a welcoming address, Mrs Lucy Kwapong, Tema Municipal Director of Education called for greater collaboration between parents and teachers to give the child a strong foundation in education. Parents should therefore, take keen interest in their children's education by monitoring their performance at school and home and participate in the School Management Committee meetings and contribute towards development of their schools.
The Rotary Club of Tema presented awards to schools that excelled in the 2004 Basic Education and Certificate Examination (BECE) Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE). They received books and DVD players.

Wa

Mr. Ambrose Dery, Upper West Regional Minister, on Sunday took the salute at a parade and march past of security agencies, school children and voluntary organizations at Wa to commemorate the 48th anniversary of Ghana's independence.
Among the security agencies were the police, prisons, immigration, customs, excise and preventive service and the Ghana National Fire Service.
The Regional Minister read President John Agyekum Kufuor's anniversary address at the parade attended by hundreds of people from all walks of life.
The occasion was also used by the Regional Co-ordinating Council to honour sixteen citizens of the region, including three women who have, in diverse ways contributed to the development of the region. They included traditional rulers, serving and retired public servants, including Dr Edward Gyader, recently retired medical director of the Wa regional hospital. Among those honoured included Mr Charles K. Gyan, Principal, Tumu Teacher Training College, Mrs. Clare Der of the Wa office of the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs. They were all presented with certificates and plaques after reading citations in their honour. In the march past by the schools, Dan Ibu International Primary was adjudged the winners with 86 points while Dan Ibu International Junior secondary school won the first place in the JSS category with 86 points with T.I. Ahmadiyya Teacher Training College, placing first with 85.6 points in the second cycle schools category.

Tamale

About 1,420 school children, including personnel from the Airborne Force, Six Infantry Battalion, the police service, the CEPS and the Ghana National Fire Service as well as the Prison service marched colourfully at the Tamale Regional Police Park to mark the 48th Independence Celebration under the command of Major Johnny Lawlavi from the Airborne Force.
A large number of the public as well as traditional rulers and other school children witnessed the occasion, which lasted for an hour. Mr. Boniface Abubakari Saddique, Northern Regional Minister inspected the guard of honour and later read a speech on behalf of President Kufour to mark the day.
The speech described the petroleum deregulation as a necessary "evil", which was meant to help accelerate the country's development and called on Ghanaians to bear with it for continued development. He said the government was always committed to the welfare of the people and would do everything possible to serve them well to justify the confidence they had reposed in it.

NPOL 027 Politics Anniversary Parade

Parade of school children marked Independence Day at Tepa

Tepa (Ash), March 06, GNA - About 2,400 pupils, students, cadet corps and market women took part in an impressive parade at Tepa JSS "A" school park to mark the 48th independence celebration in the Ahafo-Ano North District.

Mr Akwasi Adu-Poku, the acting District Chief Executive, took the salute.

The DCE after the march past read the President's address to the gathering.

He praised Master Samuel Amankwaa Boadi, 14, a former JSS pupil at Tepa JSS "B" and now a first-year student at Opoku Ware Secondary School who was among the 20 outstanding students who received the President's Independence Day award.

Mr Akwasi Adu-Poku called on the school children to be disciplined, to be hard working and to emulate Master Boadi who has brought honour not only to his parents and his school but also to the district.