The government has cancelled the annual March 6 Independence Day Parade for the country’s 68th anniversary celebration.
This was disclosed by government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu today, Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at a press briefing.
He announced that instead of the annual parade, the government will rather concentrate on a modest celebration that will not burden the taxpayer.
The minister stated that President John Dramani Mahama directed that the rotational policy for the celebration be suspended due to the rising cost.
He said it was discovered after some review that the rotation imposed additional costs, and at a time when our national budget was constrained due to the economic difficulties, it was not going to be sustainable to keep rotating the annual parade celebrations.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu revealed that the last celebrations held in Ho in the Volta Region cost the nation Ghc15 million, and every time it has been sent to other regions aside from Accra, we have had to bear such costs.
He said in the spirit of cutting down on nonessential expenditure, President Mahama has instructed that the rotation celebration be suspended, and in addition to this, ordinarily the celebration would have been held at the Independence Square, which has also been suspended.
According to him, although the President acknowledges the need to celebrate the independence in a manner that befits our status, he is also minded of the economic challenges and the various competing needs and the fact that there are critical sectors of our national life that do not receive adequate funding and at this moment in time, there is the need to re-prioritise government expenditure and one of the areas that savings can be made is the Independence celebration.
He stressed that the president remains committed to holding a modest but significant independence celebration without breaking the national purse.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
