The Parade and its colour

With Ghana’s military might on display, the various artillery regiments marched with their armoury, including mortars, multiple rocket launchers, anti-tank/anti-aircraft vehicles, riot control vehicles, fire engines and recovery vehicles.

But the toast of the day and crowd’s favourite was the bravado and swag displayed by the special forces of the Navy, the Airforce , the Army and the police, making sections of the crowd explode into wild jubilation and applause.

Then, a 21-gun salute vibrated through the square, compelling some of the invited guests to sit alert. Others, who could not stand the thunderous noise, covered their ears with their palms or fingers.

Spotting a low haircut and immaculately dressed in a black  trouser and  grey- and- black-stripped smock with black  shoes to match, President  Mahama, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, kicked-off the parade in the company of the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed  Ahmed Alhassan, and Lieutenant-General Peter Augustine Blay, the Chief of Defence Staff, by inspecting a massive guard of honour comprising  men and women from the security services, students and teachers from selected schools within the Accra metropolis.

Neatly formed lines of the contingents snapped into disciplined rows as the President and his entourage weaved and bobbed through their columns.

Right after inspecting the guard of honour, the President lighted the independence flame to the admiration of the cheering crowd, some decked in the national colours and waving miniature flags.

The dexterity of the colour (flag) bearers of the various security services and the Mace display was also awesome as they threw and caught with accuracy their maces.

Chiefs and traditional leaders, elegantly dressed in kente with glittering jewelleries to match, waved and applauded as schoolchildren from their various traditional areas marched past.

Former President J.J Rawlings arrived at 8.05 a.m. to wild and spontaneous cheers from the chiefs and the packed audience in the public gallery.

The Black Star Square went agog when President Mahama, in an uncharacteristic fashion, decided to show his musical side by singing portions of the national anthem.

A number of schoolchildren also fell to the heat as they collapsed and were rushed to a mounted stand where they were given first aid. By 9.30am, 50 students had received first aid.

A member of the National Ambulalce Service medical team told the Daily Graphic on condition of anonymity that it was because of exhaustion, dizziness and dehydration.

Story by Seth Bokpe