At Denu, personnel of the security agencies in the Ketu District on Saturday joined civil society organisations, pupils and students of basic and second cycle schools in a four-hour parade to mark Ghana's 47th Independence Day celebration at Denu.
The personnel were from the Police, Immigration Service, Fire service, Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), as well as voluntary groups such as the Girl Guides and Scouts.
Mr Linus Koffie, Ketu District Chief Executive (DCE), flanked by Mr Kwabena Akuoko Oduro, District Police Commander, Miss Flora Dzoboku, District Director of Education and Mr Alexander Okunor, Aflao CEPS Sector Commander, took the salute.
The DCE read the President Mr John Agyekum Kufuor's speech, which exhorted Ghanaians to reflect on the theme of the day: "Discipline, Tolerance and Honesty - Essential Qualities for Deepening Democracy in Ghana."
Six schools including Hedzranawo Number One Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Saint Paul's Secondary School received certificates for excellent performance in marching in the basic and second cycle categories respectively.
At Keta Mr Emmanuel Vorkeh, the DCE who took the salute with Mr Samuel Dewortor, District Director of Education, stressed on the President's plea for Ghanaians to allow democracy to grow in the country.
The march past, which was competitive, was won by Keta Secondary School, the Local Authority (LA) Basic School with 75 points, followed by Norlivime Roman Catholic School with 69 points with Anlo State School taking the third position with 68.7 points.
Koforidua
The Eastern Regional Minister, Dr Francis Osafo-Mensah on Saturday took the salute at a parade of schoolchildren and the security services at the Jackson's Park at Koforidua to mark the 47th Independence anniversary celebration.
The contingent made up of 1,200 schoolchildren from the first and second cycle institutions and members of the security service drawn from the Army, Police, Prisons, Fire Services, NGO's and the Assembly guards was under the command of Captain George Nkansah.
Present at the parade were Commanders of the various security services, the New Juaben Municipal Chief Executive, Nana Adjei Boateng, Omanhene of the Juaben Traditional area, Daasebre Prof. Oti Boateng, religious ministers and heads of institutions and departments. In attendance were a joint Military/Police and the Ascension Presbyterian Church Band. The Koforidua Unit School for the Deaf performed a cultural display
Akim Oda
At Akim Oda a parade of 26 Primary schools, 17 Junior Secondary Schools, seven Senior Secondary Schools and Voluntary Organizations including traders to mark Ghana Independence Anniversary celebration in the Birim South District was held at the Akim Oda Sports Stadium on Saturday.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Yaw Amprofi assisted by the District Director of Education, Mrs Stella Kwamma Nanor took the salute. In an address, Mr Amprofi advised the school children not to jeopardize their lives by indulging in immoral activities to contract the deadly HIV/AIDS disease.
He urged them to lead clean and disciplined lives and make themselves worthy inheritors "of this beautiful land of Ghana". Mr Amprofi paid tribute to teachers and gave the assurance that the government was determined not to show its appreciation merely by words but by progressively working to improve their welfare.
He urged Ghanaians to be tolerant by accommodating one another's opinions, for a peaceful atmosphere in the country.
Mr Amprofi said what made constitutional democracy such as Ghana's attractive was that it prescribed an orderly way of life adding that" the laws governing us are not subject to the whims and caprices of those in government."
He said democracy was not any form of government but it was generally agreed it was much more equitable and preferable form of governance.
Tamale
Mr Ernest Debrah, Northern Regional Minister said after 47 years of independence the country had now gone a full cycle and is poised to re-launch her development agenda once again.
"We have chosen the path of democracy which we shall sustain and through it establish accountable, responsible and efficient governance".
The Regional Minister who read the President's independence anniversary message, urged politicians not to use tribal sentiments to score "underserved political points" but to judge every one on his or her own merit and not by where he or she comes from.
He cautioned the security services against the HIV/AIDS pandemic and told them to protect their lives since "Ghana needs their contributions in her development efforts".
Mr Debrah reviewed a parade mounted by the security services and school children drawn from the Tamale Metropolis and nine voluntary organizations as part of the anniversary celebrations. He lauded the security agencies for maintaining the peace in the country, especially in the Northern Region. "There is the need for us to build and consolidate peace in the country not only for our own sake but for generations yet unborn," he urged.
At the parade were Members of the Council of State, chiefs, District Chief Executives and political leaders.
Ho
Ho, March 6, GNA - A total 170 men and 12 officers from the security agencies and 1,500 pupils and students from selected institutions and some voluntary organisations took part in the Independence Day parade at the Ho Sports Stadium on Saturday.
The parade, which was under the command of Major Willie Dagbe of the 66th Artillery Regiment, was on the theme: "Discipline, Tolerance and Honesty - Essential Qualities for Deepening Democracy in Ghana". Mr Owusu-Yeboa, Volta Regional Minister, who took the salute and read the President's address, urged the citizenry to rededicate themselves to working harder and providing unalloyed service necessary to lift the nation from its present socio-economic quagmire. He appealed to Ghanaians to be disciplined and tolerant, saying these two virtues were essential qualities for nation building, especially in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation like Ghana. "We must therefore cultivate these important qualities in order to deepen our democracy", he said.
Mawuko Girls Secondary School was adjudged the best Senior Secondary School during this year's march past while Mawuli School and Dora Memorial SSS came second and third respectively. Ho-Dome Roman Catholic Junior Secondary School (JSS) won the JSS category while Volta Barracks JSS and Mawuli JSS placed second and third respectively.
In the Primary category, Mawuli Primary 'A' came first, followed by Prince of Peace and Ho-Bankoe Methodist 'A' Primary respectively. Present were Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of Asogli State, Service Commanders, Members of Parliament, Political Parties and Heads of Decentralised Departments.
Sunyani
At Sunyani about 3,000 members of security services and school children formed a parade to mark the 47th Independence anniversary at the Coronation Park on Saturday.
They comprised 1,680 school children, 240 personnel of the Military, Police, Prisons, Customs, Excise and Preventive Service, Immigration, 140 teachers and representatives of eight voluntary organizations. Contingents of cadets of the Saint James Seminary/Secondary School at Abesim, Notre Dame Girls' Secondary School at Fiapre, Twene Amanfo Secondary/Technical and Sunyani Secondary School also took part in the parade and a march past.
Captain Edward Awarbey of the Third Battalion of Infantry, Liberation Barracks, Sunyani, was the Parade Commander.
The schoolchildren were from first-cycle schools, which included two newly established ones in the district, namely the Ebenezer Preparatory and Wesley Methodist, both in Sunyani. They did not let their authorities down in their maiden participation in a national celebration as their smart turnout drew prolonged applause from the large number of spectators.
The cadet corps contingent of Notre Dame School, in their new uniforms also enjoyed cheers for their near professional appearance and attracted catcalls and shouts of "mo ye bue", "moye bue" (meaning 'you are good') in appreciation from the crowd.
Another interesting aspect of the parade was the dexterity with which the leader of the military band displayed with his stick, "aban poma", to the admiration of all present. Nana Kwadwo Seinti, Regional Minister, took the salute and accompanied by Mrs. Akua Debrah, Regional Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES) inspected the parade and later read President John Agyekum Kufour's anniversary address to the gathering, which included chiefs, service commanders and heads of departments.
Prizes were presented to the three best schools in activities to mark the anniversary. St. James JSS was adjudged the best in clean up and was presented with a football and a certificate. Nyamaah JSS was second and Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) third. Both schools were presented with certificates.
In the march past competition, Garrison Education Unit and St. Mary's Preparatory took the first and second positions respectively in the Primary division and were given a football and a certificate each, while His Grace International School, which placed third had a certificate.
In the JSS division, Liberation Barracks won the first position and were presented with a table tennis net and a bat, while Police Experimental and His Grace International who placed second and third respectively were given a football each. In the senior secondary schools, Twene Amanfo Secondary/Technical (TASTECH) took the first position and collected a shield, football and a certificate.
Notre Dame Girls Secondary placed second and took a basketball, a shield and a certificate. while third-placed Sunyani Secondary School received a football and a certificate.
Kumasi
In Kumasi, school children, security agencies and voluntary organisations took part in the parade, which was held at the sports stadium.
Among the large number of people who witness the ceremony were the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, religious leaders, chiefs and service commanders.
In a speech read for him by Mr Boafo, the President, Mr J.A. Kufuor pledged the commitment of the government to provide a level playing field for all political parties in the upcoming elections.
He said the country had good opportunity to demonstrate to the world that it was capable of solving its own problems.
President Kufuor said the theme for the independence celebrations, which is: "Discipline, Tolerance and Honesty, Essential Qualities for Deepening Democracy in Ghana" was appropriate, since they were essential in ensuring good neighbourliness and harmony among the people in the society.
He said the country had suffered significant degradation in its development and it was time to cultivate discipline, tolerance and honesty to deepen the democratic governance and rule of law. President Kufuor urged Ghanaians to ensure discipline in national life by respecting national institutions that promoted good governance. He commended teachers for their hard work in spite of poor service conditions and assured them that the government was working to improve the service conditions of teachers.
The President also reminded the security agencies of the HIV/AIDS menace and appealed to them to be cautious and refrain from acts that could put their lives in danger.
Awards were presented to deserving schools and cadet corps who took part in the parade.
Sekondi
Sekondi March. 6, GNA -At Sekondi a Parade of the security services, school children and voluntary organizations was on Saturday held at the Sekondi Gyandu Park to commemorate the 47th independence anniversary in the Shama-Ahanta East Metropolis.
The security services were drawn from the Second Battalion of Infantry, Takoradi Air force Station, Western Naval Command, and the Western Police Command.
The rest were drawn from the Regional Command of the Prison Service, Ghana National Fire Service as well as the Immigration Service and the Custom, Excise and Preventive Service.
There were also contingents from first and second cycle schools including cadet corps from Saint John's School, Bompeh Secondary Technical, Ghana Secondary Technical School, Fijai Secondary School, Archbishop Porter Girls Secondary School and Holy Child College. Voluntary organizations that took part in the parade were Prisons Officers Wives Association, the Ghana National Association of Traditional Healers and Market Women Association.
Mr. Joseph Boahen Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, took the salute after inspecting the parade.
Mr. Aidoo read the President's address and said Ghanaians must cultivate discipline, tolerance and democracy to deepen the country's democracy.
He said the people themselves decided that given the choice, constitutional democracy was their preferred route of governance and development after the country had started with democracy and experimented with one-party, liberation, redemption and revolutionary governments.
Mr. Aidoo said what made constitutional democracy attractive was that it prescribes an orderly way of life and the laws that govern the people were not subject to the whims and caprices of those in government and everybody was subject to the discipline of the national constitution.
He also presented Regional Coordinating Council awards to best performers in 2003 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE).
In the BECE category, Nana Akwesi Awuah of the Nest JSS, Takoradi, placed first followed by Miss Selina Amankwah of Nkrumah JSS at Sefwi Wiawso and Master Perez Osei-Prempeh of Dennis Foundation Academy, Bawdie.
They were each presented with a cash prize of 700,000 cedis. In the SSSCE division, Miss Jennifer Anderson of Archbishop Porter Girls' Secondary School came first while Master Andy Sowah Dzane of Ghana Secondary Technical School followed in the second position and Miss Phyllis Appiah-Kubi of Sefwi-Bekwai Secondary Technical, the third position.
They each received 250,000 cedis cash prize.
Madam Sophia Horner-Sam, Deputy Regional Minister, and service commanders, heads of departments, chiefs and people attended the parade from all walks of life.
Cape Coast
Students and pupils from more than 40 institutions in the Cape Coast municipality joined some 129 security personnel from the army, police, prison and fire services in the parade at the St Augustine's college park in Cape Coast.
The Prison service band and Methodist Boys Brigade provided music for the march past.
Reading the President's message for the occasion, the Central Regional Minister, Mr Isaac Edumadze, reminded Ghanaians that the day was being celebrated to recognise the efforts of the past heroes and also to think of how to "leave a worthwhile inheritance to future generations".
He in this regard, tasked Ghanaians to "pledge anew" to the motherland never again to betray her, nor her Constitution. He underscored the important role discipline could play in the nation's democracy, stressing that if the nation's democracy was to succeed, its people had no choice but to be disciplined, tolerant and honest with each other and with the nation.
He reiterated government's commitment to ensure a level playing field for this year's elections and urged the various political parties to be vehicles for the evolvement of more ideas to the national discourse, to help the people to make informed choices, and not as instruments for division.
"At 47, let Ghanaians show the world that we are mature and can conduct our affairs in an orderly manner" he added.
He also reminded the security services of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and urged them to extend the discipline and dedication they required for success in their professional lives to their personal lives, to be able to overcome the disease and called school children not to jeopardize their lives by taking chances.
