A contingent of 16 officers and 1,600 men and women drawn from the security agencies, youth groups, voluntary organizations and selected senior and junior high schools in the Kumasi metropolis took part in anniversary parade held at the newly constructed golden jubilee park in Kumasi.

The parade, which was under the command of Captain A.K Awuni of the 4th Infantry Battalion in Kumasi, was reviewed by Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister and Mrs Belinda Serwaah Addo, Regional Director of Education. In attendance were the Regional Commanders of the various security agencies, Heads of government Agencies and Departments, KMA Chief Executive, Madam Patricia Appiagyei, Mr Asonaba Dapaah, Member of the Council of State, the Akyempimhene, Oheneba Adusei Poku, who represented the Asantehene, chiefs from the various ethnic groups, Imams and Heads of churches.

President John Agyekum Kufuor in an address read on his behalf by Mr Owusu-Ansah commended Ghanaians for their selfless and dedicated contributions, to the growth and development of the country. He said Ghanaians should draw lessons from the country's past experiences to push forward the national development agenda. Miss Esther Amoateng Mensah, a pupil of the Good Shepherd Junior High School in Kumasi, who read the concerns of Ghanaian children, commended the government for the implementation of a number of programmes that sought to create equal access for all children to go to school. She, however, appealed for additional school infrastructure to cope with increasing school enrolment. Miss Mensah also called for the improvement in the service conditions of teachers to enable them give out their best. More EKB/KK 06 March 08