Apowa (W/R), Feb. 28, GNA - The Shama Ahanta East Metropolis on Tuesday enthusiastically welcomed the freedom flame amidst brass band music and dancing. As early as 0930, school children had lined the streets waiting for the flame.

While many of the children said Ghana at 50 was passing by, some adults doubted the existence of the flame and burst into laughter and clapped when they saw it.

Several types and sizes of the Ghana flag were displayed at vantage points though many of them did not have the black star in the middle. Along the routes, people kept asking for more flags to enable them to wave them and hung them in their rooms for the celebrations. In all 44 individuals including chiefs, politicians, traders, ministers of the gospel, school children, the elderly, voluntary organizations and associations, security services among others carried the flame throughout the procession, till it finally arrived at the Positive Action roundabout at Essikadu where libation was poured at Pobee Biney's residence.

Pobee Biney was one of the railway enginemen who masterminded and fought for the declaration of the Positive Action leading to an industrial action by railway workers and other workers in the Gold Coast.

Mr. Philip K. Nkrumah, the SAEMA Chief Executive, handed over the flame to Mr. Kwesi Blay, the Deputy Regional Minister, at the Essikadu junction who handed it over to Anthony E. Amoah, Western Regional Minister at the Empire Day Park at Essikadu. Mr. Amoah said the Western Regional played significant roles in the independence struggle and it could again bring economic transformation to the country.

He said the region must play its role well as the leading producer to assist the nation to have its economic freedom.