Yendi (N/R), March 7, GNA - One thousand, six hundred and forty scho= ol children from 41 schools in the Yendi Municipality took part in the 53rd Anniversary march past at the Yendi Jubilee Park. They were from pre-schools, basic and senior secondary schools. Voluntary organizations like the Young Writers Club, Scouts, Red Cross, Cadres and Zoomlion Ghana Limited also participated. In an address, the Yendi Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Walvis Hudu, reminded Ghanaians that the occasion provided them the opportunity to reflect on the national progress since our independence from our British Colonial Masters and the future prospects.

He said Ghanaians could not do any good reflection if they failed to acknowledge the immense contributions and sacrifices of people like Osagy= efo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the gallant ex-service men, market women, farmers and Veranda Boys, who gave the leadership the needed support to chalk the nat= ion's independence ahead of other countries in Africa South of the Sahara. The MCE indicated that despite the economic challenges in the 1970s,=

the country under constitutional arrangement had witnessed five general elections with three successive presidents taking over the mantle of leadership peacefully. Mr Hudu said it was apparent that the measures put in place by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to turn the economic fortunes of the country around were bearing fruits.

The stabilization of the cedi against the major currencies, the reduction in inflation and the base rate were clear indications that the economy had been put back on the path of revitalization and economic grow= th, he stated. He said the government recognized the youth as the bedrock of the country's development and it was in that vein that the theme for this yea= r's Independence Anniversary was; "Investing in the Youth for a Better Ghana"= .. According to Mr Hudu, programmes were being rolled out by the government to provide the youth opportunities to improve their economic well-being and position them for a better future. He announced that under the District Wide Assistance Project, a Girl= s' Dormitory and a three unit classroom block had just been completed for th= e Health Assistants Training School at Gamazi.

Under the District Development Facility, a number of classroom block= s, health facilities, teachers' accommodations and KVIP toilets have been bu= ilt in the municipality with more benefits expected under the North Accelerat= ed Development Authority. He urged the people to brace themselves to take advantage of the opportunities that would be provided.

He stated that very soon basic schools in the municipality would be supplied with exercise books and school uniforms free of charge. Government has decided that all schools under trees would be provide= d with standard classroom blocks to prevent the intermittent break in class= es due to the vagaries of the weather, he announced. In the march past contest, Yendi R.C. was first at the pre-school lev= el; Zohe Islamic and St. Charles also won the first positions at the primary and Junior High levels while Yendi Senior High School was first in its catego= ry. They received cash prizes ranging from GH¢25.00 to GH¢40.00. 07 March 10