Kumasi prepares for Independence celebration
Preparations have heightened in Kumasi for the celebration of the country’s 63rd independence anniversary.
The independence anniversary is being celebrated on the theme: "Consolidating our gains" and the climax will have the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Keith Rowley, as the Special Guest.
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Publicity on the event is low in Kumasi, in spite of the fact that it is the first time the event is being hosted in the Garden City.
Organisers have, however, been busy shaping up the 43,000-capacity Baba Yara Stadium, the venue for the anniversary parade.
The week-long celebration began last Friday with the 28th February Christianborg Crossroad Shooting Incident in Accra and Muslim prayers on that same day in Kumasi and around the country.
Last Saturday, a major clean-up exercise was held in the Garden City, also as part of the programme line, which will be climaxed on Friday with a parade by schoolchildren, the security services and other identifiable groups.
Background
Independence Day is an official state holiday observed in Ghana and the Ghanaian Diaspora on March 6.
The day marks the declaration of independence from the United Kingdom, which saw a Ghanaian, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, become the first Prime Minister of the independent country.
Ghana was the first sub-Saharan African country to attain independence from British colonial rule.
This will be the second time the event is being held outside Accra, after it was held in the Northern Regional capital, Tamale, last year.
This decentralisation of the national event is a way to bring the meaning, experience and the story of the country’s independence closer to the people.
Preparation
Ahead of the event, efforts have been stepped up to beautify Kumasi, particularly in and around the stadium, while the roads leading to the stadium are also receiving some painting.
The median of major roads, especially between Ejisu and Oforikrom, is awash with portraits of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, as well as major political players of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), including President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, former President John Agyekum Kufuor and the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, Mr Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
There are drapings of the colours of the national flag at vantage points, while the main entrance to the stadium and houses in its immediate surroundings have all been painted to beautify the area.
Last Friday, the Ashanti Regional Fire Service began watering the grass at the stadium to bring out its lush green colour.
Also, the entire stadium arena and the seats in the stands have been painted in the national colours of red, gold and green.
Residence, hotels
A few hotels the Daily Graphic visited, including the Golden Bean, owned by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), have been fully booked, but officials could not say whether it was linked to the celebration or not.
The official residence of the President in the region, the Regional Coordinating Council
Residency, is glowing with the national colours, while security has been beefed up.
Divided opinions
Opinions are divided among some Kumasi residents the Daily Graphic spoke to about the upcoming event.
While some are excited to be part of the celebrations for the first time, describing it as ‘historic’, a few others are unamused, saying they were more concerned about making ends meet.
Clean up
Ahead of the celebration, the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Osei Assibey Antwi, led residents in a five-hour clean-up exercise last Saturday.
Major drains in the central business district were desilted, while some roads linking the city were painted.
Mr Assibey Antwi told the Daily Graphic that there was a strong collaboration between the assembly and the Ghana Tourist Board to ensure that the various hotels offered high standards of reception for invited guests.
He said the assembly was facilitating the invitation of key stakeholders, including chiefs and religious leaders, to add colour and value to the event.
"We consider this a serious and important occasion and the success or failure of it will be plus or minus for us," he said.
"The plan, between now and the event and even beyond, is to sustain a clean Kumasi and sell out a good image to the rest of the world," he added.
Auxiliary activities
In Accra, Joshua Bediako Koomson reports that the celebration of this year’s Independence anniversary started with the remembrance ceremony for the Christianborg Crossroad Shooting Incident at the Nationalism Park at Osu, Accra, last Friday.
The ceremony is a reminder of one of the events leading to Ghana’s independence.
The Christianborg Crossroad Shooting incident took place on February 28, 1948 when a protest march by unarmed Ghanaian ex-servicemen was broken up by the colonial police, resulting in the death of some of the ex-servicemen, notably Sergeant Cornelius Francis Adjetey, Corporal Patrick Attipoe and Private Odartey Lamptey.
Programme line-up
Apart from the anniversary parade, which will take place in Kumasi on Independence Day, other activities in connection with the anniversary will also take place in Kumasi.
Last Friday, there was a prayer and thanksgiving service for the Muslim community nationwide, as well as an anniversary debate at the Great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS, Saltpond, beat Yaa Asantewa Girls’ SHS, Kumasi, in the keenly contested grand finale of the 63rd Independence Day and 23rd Inter-School Debate.
Aside from last Saturday’s clean-up exercise in Kumasi and fitness walks nationwide, a Christian prayer and thanksgiving service was held by Christians nationwide yesterday.
Later that same day, a ‘What Do You Know?’ competition was held at the Great Hall of KNUST.
A flag-hoisting ceremony, which will last for one week, will be held today, while a Presidential Independence Day Awards for schoolchildren will also be held at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).
Tomorrow is set for Ashanti Wear Day, which will be held nationwide, while an anniversary street carnival will also be held at the Kumasi City Mall the following day.
There is also going to be a re-enactment of the Declaration of Independence at the Old Polo Grounds in Accra on Thursday.
The military will then hold the 63rd Anniversary Fireworks in all regional capitals across the country on Thursday.
The main event
The Independence Parade on Friday will involve personnel from the security agencies, schoolchildren and other notable organisations.
The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Mr Keith Christopher Rowley, will be the special guest of honour for the event, while the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and other dignitaries will grace it.
Rumble @ 63, a boxing fiesta, is also scheduled to take place at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra on Saturday, March 7, and the following Saturday, March 14, all military garrisons throughout the country will welcome students from basic schools, as well as civilians, to have the opportunity to interact with military men to gain insights into their roles as the defence pillars of the state.
Rehearsal
Meanwhile, the stadium arena in Kumasi, especially the main entrance, is awash with NPP paraphernalia, as party supporters are seen with branded T-shirts waving and cheering on both students and security men in their final dress rehearsal ahead of Friday's historic event.
Indeed, last Saturday, the stadium was lit with excitement as though it was the main event.
Food joints and pubs were busy, as people from all walks of life thronged the venue in a prototype celebration in Kumasi.
To sum it up, Kumasi, especially Amakom, the heart of Kumasi, is ready to host the rest of the world on Friday.