March 6 is every Ghanaian’s birthday
Friday is a holiday. Hurray! Apart from those who will be taking part in the anniversary parade most of us will not go to school or work. This means that we are going to have a long weekend. Exciting isn’t it?
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March 6 every year is a public holiday in Ghana. Students as well as members of the security services go on a parade to mark the day.
But have you ever thought about why we do this every year?
We know from our history books that on March 6, 1957, Ghana attained independence from the British. This day is so special to us because we gained our freedom from the British colonial masters who had colonised us.
Independence means being able to take your own decisions without influence from any body.
You know, at the time the British colonial masters were the ones taking decisions for us, telling us what to do and what not to do. We did not like this situation very much so everybody was excited when we gained independence at last, apart from the fact that Ghana was the first Black African country to gain independence.
It is just like your parents going away on a trip one weekend and leaving you and your siblings alone at home. Don’t you feel excited to do things your way even for just two days that they will be gone? That is how it feels to be independent but in the case of the country we will be doing things our own way forever!
Celebrating March 6 every year reminds us that as a country our destiny is in our own hands, that we have to uphold our heritage, culture and values as well as our morals just as Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President, made it clear in his address on that day thus: “That new African is ready to fight his own battles and show that after all, the black man is capable of managing his own affairs.”
Did you know that the road to independence was a very rugged one which resulted in a lot of people losing their lives? Some were also imprisoned while others were exiled. We, therefore, celebrate March 6 every year to remember and appreciate the toil of our forefathers who laid down their lives for our independence.
By now, I am sure you are wondering what the celebration has got to do with children because they are made to march on that day.
Children are made to march to inculcate in them a sense of nationalism, patriotism and selflessness — that is to be like our forefathers who fought for our independence — so deem it a privilege when you are selected to march on March 6 every year.
The excitement of March 6 is just like celebrating one’s birthday but this birthday is grand because it’s everybody’s birthday in Ghana. This is why it’s a holiday for all.
So enjoy the day and make sure you reflect on what our forefathers did for our country and strive to do same, starting from now.