Koforidua, the proverbial City of Flowers was virtually paralyzed as residents rested economic and other social activities in deference for a spectacular fiesta held at the hastily constructed Jubilee Park in commemoration of the nation's fiftieth independence anniversary.

A highly enthusiastic crowd hued in the national colours converged at the Park , marched and danced to martial music provided by the Ghana Immigration Service cum Ghana Army band. The New Juaben Youth Choir provided a supporting role for the 73 contingents drawn from the 17 districts in the region as well as security and related services in a show of oneness.

The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Yaw Barimah arrived at the grounds to a tumultuous welcome resplendent in a kente cloth and was conducted round by Lieutenant-Colonel Godwin Agbey of the First Infantry Brigade of the Ghana Armed Forces.

He later took the salute as the crowd overcame by emotions, cheered and danced to music at the choked park. It was a wonder how things went into shape within the last twenty hours as some structures were not even roofed by Monday. All adjoining spaces were filled up and some daring youth were spotted clutched to trees to have a better view of proceedings. Fast food vendors and iced water sellers had a field day just as taxi drivers.

Drivers of the Metro Transport Company assisted in ferrying people free of charge from the Jackson's Park to the Jubilee Park. Ghana Secondary School, Koforidua cadet corps emerged the best in that group followed by that of Koforidua Secondary School and Oda Secondary School respectively.

Yilo Krobo Secondary Commercial School came first in the regular secondary institution division beating the Kukurantumi based Ofori Panin Secondary and the Akropong-Akuapem Mount Sinai Secondary Schools to second and third positions.

For the basic schools category, Methodist Schools in the New Juaben Municipality triumphed over Anglican and Catholic basic schools.