Ghana is celebrating her 66th Independence Day today, March 6, 2023. Ho, the Volta Regional capital is co-hosting the national celebration with the Adaklu District at the Volta Regional Youth Resource Centre at Adaklu. Since the launch of the Celebration last month, the Volta Regional Coordinating Council has been working feverishly to put the necessary arrangements in place to make this year’s celebration memorable. This year’s event is on the theme: ‘Our Unity, Our Strength, Our Purpose’. President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea Bissau, who is also the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), is the Special Guest of Honour. More than 5,000 people from across the country, including members of the diplomatic corps, the clergy, traditional rulers and other dignitaries are in the Municipality to participate in the event. In 2017, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo decided the independence celebration be held on rotational basis to open the regions to the world to boost the local economy. This is the first time that the Volta Region is hosting the national independence parade, which commemorates the Day Ghana formally weaned itself from British colonial rule. A total of 22 contingents from the various security agencies and 12 from the various schools in the Volta Region would be on parade, aside other performances. The 66 Artillery Regiment in Ho is in charge of the march past. As of Saturday, March 4, 2023, many hotels in the Ho Municipality and the Adaklu District were reported to have been fully booked – with some even booked a week earlier. The regional capital has been decorated with Ghana flag, with several offices also draping their buildings in Ghana colours (red, yellow, green) to mark the occasion. Ho township roads as well as the Atimpoku-Ho road have seen some facelift. Ho, christened ‘Ghana’s Oxygen City’ due to its air quality and serene environment, has come alive with various entertainment activities heralding the Day. Police armoured vehicles and armed personnel of the various security agencies have been positioned at various intersections and vantage points to ensure law and order. On 6th March, 1957, Ghana gained independence after 83 years of British colonial rule – becoming the first sub-Saharan African country to achieve independence from Britain. The country’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah declared Ghana as ‘free forever’ from colonial rule, marking a historic turning point in the governance of the country. Since that day, every March 6 is celebrated across the country and among Ghanaians abroad with various activities, some of which are observed throughout the month of March.
Source: Ghana News Agency
