Preparations for the much-anticipated Ghana@50 celebrations are now well underway with organizers promising to make March 6 an unforgettable day for both Ghanaians and visitors alike.
Event Manager for the jubilee celebrations, Mike Cook, has revealed how the event will provide the opportunity for Ghanaians and indeed all Africans across the globe to unite and commemorate fifty years of independence through a series of nationally planned street parties and carnival processions.
In an interview with The Chronicle, Mr. Cook, Chief Executive Officer of the radio station Vibe FM, spoke of using the occasion to reflect upon Ghana's illustrious history whilst looking forwards towards the next fifty years.
"Ghana@50 will be a chance to appreciate the challenges the nation faced fifty years ago," he remarked. "Ghana has a lot to be thankful for and the jubilee celebrations will reflect that.
We expect the attendance to be in the millions, though obviously we would like the entire nation to attend the festivities in some way."
For what is being billed as the "biggest street party Africa has ever seen", Mr. Cook has announced that 138 street parties will be held simultaneously across the nation, and, in keeping with the importance of the event, his company, Vibe Productions, has pulled out all the stops to ensure that March 6 will be as memorable and as enjoyable as possible.
Celebrations range from small street parties to larger events in the capital, including a huge carnival procession beginning in Independence Square and culminating at Danquah Circle. A brief look down the planned sights on display makes for an impressive read: 500 dancers; 100 brass bands; 30 themed floats; 200 cultural troupes; 133 MC's; 2000 masqueraders; 160 local and international artists and 140 of the country's best DJ's over 150 sound stages.
With all this promised and more, it would be safe to assume that the money donated to Vibe Productions has run into the millions. Mr. Cook replied that the company has not yet been provided with any money but have instead tabled a nominal fee of ?7 billion which the Ghana@50 committee has promised to match.
"Though the figure is a large amount, I feel that this is a unique opportunity to unite all Ghanaians", he said, "The country has a great deal to be thankful for - peace, unity and vibrancy. The Ghana@50 parades and festivities will reinforce this."
Vibe Productions secured the lucrative job of managing the national festivities after gaining the most votes in a public poll, a decision surely influenced by their involvement in previous carnivals such as the 'Millennium Bash', which attracted over a million spectators and was lauded by all who attended it. With such a prestigious accolade under his belt, it is perhaps unsurprising that Mike Cook claims to not feel the pressure of organising what will surely be the largest national celebration in Ghana's history since 1957 itself.
"Of course there is a great deal of pressure as we are working on such a large scale. However, I have worked on the Millennium celebrations and that was at the time the nation's biggest event, so I am used to it".
In regards to the celebrations, Mr. Cook has stressed that "energy, vibrancy and colour" will mark the tone for the day and has urged both Ghanaians and Africans alike to commemorate the historic event on March 6.
Preparations for the much-anticipated Ghana@50 celebrations are now well underway with organizers promising to make March 6 an unforgettable day for both Ghanaians and visitors alike.
Event Manager for the jubilee celebrations, Mike Cook, has revealed how the event will provide the opportunity for Ghanaians and indeed all Africans across the globe to unite and commemorate fifty years of independence through a series of nationally planned street parties and carnival processions.
In an interview with The Chronicle, Mr. Cook, Chief Executive Officer of the radio station Vibe FM, spoke of using the occasion to reflect upon Ghana's illustrious history whilst looking forwards towards the next fifty years.
"Ghana@50 will be a chance to appreciate the challenges the nation faced fifty years ago," he remarked. "Ghana has a lot to be thankful for and the jubilee celebrations will reflect that.
We expect the attendance to be in the millions, though obviously we would like the entire nation to attend the festivities in some way."
For what is being billed as the "biggest street party Africa has ever seen", Mr. Cook has announced that 138 street parties will be held simultaneously across the nation, and, in keeping with the importance of the event, his company, Vibe Productions, has pulled out all the stops to ensure that March 6 will be as memorable and as enjoyable as possible.
Celebrations range from small street parties to larger events in the capital, including a huge carnival procession beginning in Independence Square and culminating at Danquah Circle. A brief look down the planned sights on display makes for an impressive read: 500 dancers; 100 brass bands; 30 themed floats; 200 cultural troupes; 133 MC's; 2000 masqueraders; 160 local and international artists and 140 of the country's best DJ's over 150 sound stages.
With all this promised and more, it would be safe to assume that the money donated to Vibe Productions has run into the millions. Mr. Cook replied that the company has not yet been provided with any money but have instead tabled a nominal fee of ?7 billion which the Ghana@50 committee has promised to match.
"Though the figure is a large amount, I feel that this is a unique opportunity to unite all Ghanaians", he said, "The country has a great deal to be thankful for - peace, unity and vibrancy. The Ghana@50 parades and festivities will reinforce this."
Vibe Productions secured the lucrative job of managing the national festivities after gaining the most votes in a public poll, a decision surely influenced by their involvement in previous carnivals such as the 'Millennium Bash', which attracted over a million spectators and was lauded by all who attended it. With such a prestigious accolade under his belt, it is perhaps unsurprising that Mike Cook claims to not feel the pressure of organising what will surely be the largest national celebration in Ghana's history since 1957 itself.
"Of course there is a great deal of pressure as we are working on such a large scale. However, I have worked on the Millennium celebrations and that was at the time the nation's biggest event, so I am used to it".
In regards to the celebrations, Mr. Cook has stressed that "energy, vibrancy and colour" will mark the tone for the day and has urged both Ghanaians and Africans alike to commemorate the historic event on March 6.
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