6th March celebrations: How Akufo-Addo is uniting Ghanaians with rotational venues

Since Ghana attained independence on March 6, 1957, the country’s annual celebration to commemorate the day has always been held in the capital at Independence Square.

Everything however changed with the inauguration of President Akufo-Addo. Three years into his tenure, the President changed the 61-year-old tradition of celebrating Ghana’s independence in the country’s capital.

During his State of the Nation address on February 21, 2019, he declared that the 62nd National Independence Celebrations will be hosted in the Northern regional capital, Tamale specifically at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium. It was a move to solidify the peace and unity achieved in the Dagbon traditional area that year.

“In order to reinforce and support the process of reconciliation and the restoration of peace in Dagbon, I have decided that this year, the 62nd Independence Day celebration will be held in Tamale on 6th March. This will be the first time in our nation’s history that the celebration is being held outside of our national capital, Accra. I am very much looking forward to it,” he said.

The move recorded a boost in the local economy in the Northern region as well as a spotlight on the rich and diverse culture of the region, which increased their prospects of tourism later that year.

Ghana at 63 Independence Day celebration which is slated for March 6, 2020 will be held at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi in the Ashanti Region as revealed by Laud Commey, the Chairman of the Planning Committee for the 63rd Independence anniversary celebration.

“I am sure you will recall that two years ago, the President of the Republic decided that the Independence Anniversary Celebrations will not only be held at the Independence Square in Accra but then from time to time it will rotate through the various regions. So that the regional capitals will have a feel of the celebrations of Ghana’s independence. And so, it started from Tamale and the President has directed that this year the Ashanti Region should be honoured with this very important celebration on the nation’s calendar,” he stated.

The theme for the celebration is ‘Consolidating our Gain’ 63 years on, with the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, His Excellency Keith Christopher Rowley as the special guest of honour.