A historian, Mr. Appiah Brobbey, has commended President John Dramani Mahama for scaling down the 68th Independence Day parade.
He posited that this has helped the country save resources that can be used for other important initiatives.
Speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, the historian indicated that this year should not be the only year for this to happen.
Mr. Appiah Brobbey, who is now 83 years old, said one of the challenges that marked the recent celebrations was the fainting of students during the parade.
“I strongly agree with the decision by the President to scale down the celebration. I was particularly not happy whenever children were allowed to stand in the sun and faint during the parade, so scaling down the celebration is the best decision. It has helped in saving the country several million Ghana cedis.”
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that it would have been unconscionable to spend a budget of Ghc20 million on a celebration when Ghanaian workers only received a 10 percent raise in their salary.
The president disclosed that the country spent Ghc15 million in 2024 for the celebration and also Ghc13 million in 2023, and after he received the budget for 2025, he felt the country was not in the capacity to spend such an amount for a celebration.
Mr. John Dramani Mahama said “fiscal prudence has become imperative for navigating the severe economic crisis that has confronted our country. The state spent Ghc15 million on last year’s celebration in Koforidua and spent Ghc137 million on the previous year’s celebration in Ho in the Volta region. This year, we received estimates of at least Ghc 20 million for holding the event at the Independence Square on the same scale as the previous years.
In a year when we are calling on all to sacrifice, including workers, who had graciously accepted a base pay adjustment far below the rate of inflation, it is unconscionable to spend that kind of money on a free hour of celebration. Today’s event will save us 95% of the estimated cost of the event.’’
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
