Black History Month marked with parade

Accra, Feb. 25 GNA - The annual Black History Month (BHM), which seeks to highlight the achievements and contributions of people to civilization was on Saturday marked with a colourful schools cadet parade at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra.

The event that is celebrated on any Saturday preceding February 24 each year is also used to remember the day on which Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was overthrown in the 1966 coup. Dr. Alexander Boadi, an Educationist and a Black Historian based in the United Kingdom was the reviewing officer for the parade mounted by various school cadets corps from first and second cycle school in the Greater Accra Region.

Schools that took part in the parade include Christian Methodist Secondary School Naval Cadet Corps, Accra Academy Army Cadet Corp, Labone Secondary School Naval Cadet Corps and Nungua Secondary School Police Cadet Corps.

Speaking after the parade, Dr Boadi said the occasion was very important in the history of black people since it acknowledges their contribution to humanity.

He said the world is moving at very fast pace and if Africans do not adopt the necessary measures and policies, they would be left behind in this global economy.

Dr Boadi also urged the students to take their studies seriously and study more about past black heroes in order to inspire them to greater heights in their chosen carrier.

"As future leaders you are not only being educated to identify problems confronting the nation but to solve them as well," he said. Mr. Nicholas Armah Armatefio, Coordinator of the National Cadet Corps announced that the Ministry of Education and Sports intends to review the whole BHM programme to include cadet drills and shooting competition among the various cadet schools.

He said the new move is expected to enhance the drill skills and shooting ability of the students as well as to be able to compete favourably with cadet groups from outside the country. He said about 100 students selected from the various cadet corps would be representing Ghana at international events to be held in Sweden, Canada and UK later in the year.

He said Ghana has also been accepted as a member of the Sea and Air Cadet Association of the UK whiles the ministry is making effort for the country to join the Army Cadet Association of the UK. He said as leaders, the cadets must ensure that life and school property are protected from vandalism.