PARADES MARK 53RD INDECE ANNIVERSAY (1b, MARCH 6, 2010)

Story: George Foley, Wa

GHANA is marking 53 years of independence from British colonial rule today and as part of the activities there are independence parades involving schoolchildren, members of the security services and civil society organisations throughout the country.
At the Independence Square where the national parade is being held, President John Evans Atta Mills will receive the salute during the historic ceremony that will also be characterised by acrobatic displays, as well as a showpiece of military artistry.
This year’s ceremony is dedicated to the memory of the country’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
The programme, expected to begin at 9 a.m., will be attended by Ministers, Parliamentarians, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and traditional rulers.
Similar parades are being held throughout the country at the regional and district levels where the Regional Ministers and District Chief Executives (DCEs) will receive the salute on behalf of the President.
Meanwhile, reports from Wa in the Upper West Region indicate that the parade will start at 6.30 a.m. because of the intensity of the sun, which meteorologists say will be uncomfortable.
All the district capitals in the region will also begin their programmes from 6.30 a.m. and end them by 8 a.m.
In the past six years, Independence celebrations usually began at 7 a.m. but the unfriendly weather this year that has seen temperatures sometimes rising as high as 40 degrees Celsius has necessitated the change in time.
As usual, sachet water sellers are expected to take advantage of the heat to rake in a lot of money at the various ceremonial grounds.
Amina Salifu, a businesswoman, told the Daily Graphic that she had since Monday stocked five deep freezers with bags of sachet water.
“I expect to make money on Saturday because a lot of people will patronise it,” she added.
There are indications of a competitive parade as the selected schools have rehearsed their act to win the coveted prize money and other awards at stake.
Most participating schools have also gone in for specially designed footwear, sunglasses and special badges to mark the day.
One school that is participating in Independence celebrations for the first time, Our Home International School, has expressed its intention to win the prize money in the primary category.
The Proprietor of the school, Mr Dauda Khalid, said it was an honour for the school to be selected for the parade and promised to give stiff competition to the other schools who seemed to have gained experience from the celebrations.