Azumah Nelson honoured, bears Ghana’s 60th anniversary torch

Boxing great, Azumah Nelson on the occasion of Ghana’s 60th anniversary became the first person to bear a relay torch that will travel nationwide for the next year.

Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo after lighting the perpetual flame also lit the relay torch before handing it over to the world boxing Hall of famer to set the torch on its journey across Ghana.

With the torch, Azumah raced from the square to the Accra Sports Stadium where he handed it over to the Greater Accra Regional Minister and the Traditional Council.

According to organizers of the anniversary celebrations, the ‘Ghana 60 Years On’ relay torch will go to all regional capitals throughout the year.

“The lighting of the torch signifies the beginning of a year-long activities to mark Ghana’s 60th anniversary.

“The torch will travel across the length and breadth of Ghana and will return to its starting point, the Independence square on March 6, 2018,” the secretariat explained.

Chiefs, opinion leaders, local heroes, athletes and Ghanaians from all walks of life are expected to be part of this relay.

The torch will feature at the major festivals that celebrates the diverse culture of Ghana’s people. The torch relay bears the same theme as Ghana’s 60th anniversary relay, ‘Mobilizing for the future’.

Meanwhile, the planned Independence Super Clash between local rivals Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak which was mooted for March 12 has been moved to the 1st of May.

According to the Director of Communications for the anniversary secretariat, Jefferson Sackey, the schedule for the local football calendar, among other factors, could not create a conducive space for the country’s biggest clubs to face off at this time.