Independence Day celebrated with a march past

Bawku (UER), March 7, GNA - A parade of school children, security services and civil society groups was held at Bawku to mark Ghana's 49th Independence anniversary.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Abdul-Rahman Gumah, flanked by the Municipal Education Director, Madam Florence Pobi, Municipal Police Commander, Supt. Peter Mawong and the commander of the Airborne Force Detachment Force took the salute.

A number of schools in the municipality were also presented with 29-inch colour television sets to enable pupils to benefit from the President's Special Initiative (PSI) on Distance Learning. Mr Gumah read President John A. Kufuor's speech in which he said on the eve of the country's Independence Golden Jubilee there was the need to shelve recrimination and seek true reconciliation to move the nation forward.

He said the Golden Jubilee, which had been proclaimed as a year of the Lord's favour with a spiritual significance, should serve as a guiding factor to overcome problems confronting the nation. President Kufuor noted that political instability and the cold war era undermined the economy, making it difficult to meet the high expectations of the people.

"But to achieve our national aspirations we must continue to sustain democracy and the rule of law to ensure peace and order in the country.

"In pursuit of this, mutual respect must be encouraged between the majority and minority in government to promote harmonious exchange of views in order for governance to serve the best interest of the entire nation" he stated.

President Kufuor urged parents and teachers to inculcate in the youth the essence of the nation's motto, "Freedom and Justice" to psyche them up to safeguard the destiny of the nation.

Touching on the theme for the celebration, "Developing and Retaining High Quality Human Resource Base: Key for Accelerated National Development," he said the government would reform the educational sector to make it relevant to the aspirations of the country.

President Kufuor said the country had played its part in the international arena, adding that with its participation and commitment to the NEPAD initiative, Ghana was poised to regain its status as a pioneer in the struggle for the total liberation of Africa. He commended the men and women who led the independence struggle and urged the youth to emulate their sterling qualities.