Countdown To Indece Day Launched

A flag hoisting ceremony marking the official countdown to the country’s 50th anniversary on March 6 was held at the new-look Independence Square in Accra yesterday.

Independence Square, named Black Star Square at independence in 1957, has undergone renovation ahead of the Golden Jubilee.

Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama used the occasion dubbed, 'Rally Round the Flag' to appeal to Ghanaians to unite and demonstrate their commitment and patriotism to the land of their birth.

'Today marks the beginning of our forward march towards the 50-year anniversary of Ghana; we are one people and one nation, this country belongs to all of us, let us be patriotic to this country and participate in the anniversary celebrations.'

Alhaji Mahama was joined earlier by Mrs. Theodosia Okoh, the designer of the national flag, who was the special guest, as well as government officials to hoist it.

Mrs. Okoh now 84, remarked: 'Now I know that through this flag, the whole country is united,' and advised Ghanaians to demonstrate true reconciliation to move the nation forward.

School children rehearsing for the Independence Day anniversary parade were not left out of the celebration as they waved the national flag and sang patriotic songs.

The Vice President and his entourage chatted with the children before leaving the square.

To climax the occasion, there was a float through the principal streets of Accra. Officials at the Ghana @50 Secretariat also distributed the national and jubilee flags to school children and students who displayed them during the float.