MPs Want Regional Rotation Of Independence Celebrations

Members of Parliament have called for a rotation of the national celebration of the country's independence anniversary on regional basis.

They said apart from bringing the celebration to the doorstep of the ordinary people, the move would also provide a special social and political opportunity for each region to share in the joy of marking the nation's day of glory at the highest level of state authority.

The MPs were contributing to a statement made on the floor of Parliament by the member for Ho Central, Mr Benjamin Komla Kpodo (NDC), to mark the country's 56th independence anniversary. The anniversary falls on Wednesday, March 6, 2013.

The member first paid tribute to the gallant ex-servicemen who laid down their lives for the country on February 28, 1948, an incident which sparked agitations for independence, and saluted the founder of the nation, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, for his gallant efforts at freeing the country from colonial yoke.

He said since independence, the country had marked the celebration with parades by school children, security personnel and other identifiable bodies and needed to devise new ways of marking the day.

“ I propose that Ghana must adopt another approach to the celebration of her independence anniversary, which will bring advanced social, political and economic benefits to the nation on a wider scale, very much beyond what we have seen over the years,” he said.

He said as part of the rotation of the celebrations, a certain amount of budgetary provision should be made towards a major developmental project that would constitute a monumental legacy of that year's anniversary in the city or region which would host the programme.

Such projects, in his view, could take the form of administration blocks, conference centres, sports complexes, tourist facilities, modern markets or any significantly visible and economically viable project.

Mr Kpodo said the move would expose the host cities to the international community through the presence of foreign dignitaries and international media.

Economic benefits, he said, could be realised in the host region through immediate and follow-up business and tourist activities that may be unearthed and showcased.

The model, according to him, also presented an additional opportunity for the equitable distribution of the nation's resources over the regions.

The member for Dome/Kwabenya, Ms Sarah Adwoa Safo (NPP), said there was the need for a “re-direction” of the way the day was marked.

She said there was the need to create a platform for the youth to interact with former heads of states on the day to ensure that they imbibed the tenets of nationalism and patriotism.

The member for Akwatia, Baba Jamal Mohammed Ahmed (NDC), said the celebration needed to be “decentralised” and the occasion used to educate the youth on the country's history.

Moving the celebrations out of Accra, he said, would give it a national character.

The member for Odododiodoo, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye (NDC), said the story of the independence struggle needed to be told to the youth of Ghana to make them have an understanding of the trials and tribulations that the country went through to free itself from colonial rule.

That, he said, would make them hesitate to engage in violence at the incitement of any politician.

The member for Effutu, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin (NPP), said there was no sense of national pride in the celebrations as it stood currently.

Mr Joseph Zaphenat Amenowode (NDC, Afadzato South), paid tribute to other stalwarts of the independence struggle, namely Kojo Botsio and Komla Agbeli Gbedemah.

The members, after commenting on the independence day celebrations, also called for the establishment of glaucoma centres all over the country and the waiving of taxes on the importation of glaucoma drugs.

Contributing to a statement by Mr Augustine Collins Ntim (NPP, Offinso North), on the need to put in measures to deal with the increasing cases of glaucoma in the country, the MPs said there was the need to encourage screening and the employment of optometrists by the Ghana Health Service to address the problem.

Dr Samuel Nuamah (NPP, Berekum East), warned against skin bleaching, saying the steroids contained in the creams caused glaucoma.

He said high blood pressure and diabetes also caused glaucoma.

Ms Ursula Owusu (NPP, Ablekuma West), who said she had suffered from sight problems for the past 40 years, said there was the need to strengthen education on some of the practices which caused diseases of the eye.

The member for Wa West, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh (NDC), called on corporate bodies to assist in the fight against the disease.

In another development, the newly elected member for Buem, Mr Daniel Kwasi Ashiamah, has been sworn in.

The oath of office was administered by the Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, on the floor of the House on Thursday.

The Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Dominic Nitiwul (NPP, Bimbilla) and Majority Leader, Benjamin Kunbuor (NDC, Nandom), advised the new member to work diligently for his constituents and to obey the rules governing business in Parliament.