A colourful parade of basic and second cycle students, traders, voluntary organisations and members of the Security Services marked Ghana's 50th anniversary celebrations at Akyem Oda on Tuesday. As early as 0800 hours the Akyem Oda Sports Stadium, the venue for the event was filled to capacity with the enthusiastic crowd, some wearing the anniversary shirts waving miniature flags.

Mr Frank Kwame Busumtwi, the District Chief Executive who read the President's anniversary address appealed to the youth to stay at home and to use their energies and enthusiasm to serve the nation. "You will find that what we achieve together here will be far more fulfilling than anything you can do elsewhere in the world". He said the continent now provided a quicker avenue to success financially and emotionally than anywhere else.

Mr Busumtwi said as the country celebrated 50 years of independence and sovereignty, it was worthwhile to "remind ourselves that freedom is a living flame to be constantly fuelled, and not a monument to be saluted and revered occasionally".

"Ghana's freedom, indeed, Africa's freedom must be an eternal flame to be continually fuelled by all our governments and peoples, because it defines our humanity".