Ghana’s Independence Day celebration in all districts within the Northern Region have been cancelled for this year.
This is to enable all districts and municipal chief executives, directors of education, staff, and school children to participate in the national independence parade to be held in the Northern Regional capital Tamale on March 6.
Director of Operations at the Presidency and a member of the organizing committee of the 62nd Independence Day parade, Lord Commey, announced the decision which he said was taken by the regional minister and his deputy.
“The Northern Regional Minister and his deputy have decided that all district level parades be cancelled to afford everybody the opportunity to witness this historic day in Tamale” he told 3news.com.
The national Independence Day celebration will for the first time in the history of Ghana, take place outside the national capital, Accra.
He said the orgainsing committee has made changes to the celebration, noting they have this year introduced what has been dubbed as “The Year of Return”.
This, Mr Commey explained seeks to bring to Ghanaians of American descent to Ghana to witness the Independence Day parade.
He revealed that the addition has received massive acceptance as already 150 Ghanaians and Africans of American descent have arrived in Ghana and are currently touring parts of the region.
“This means the president’s vision of selling the northern region is turning out to yield positive results because hotels are fully booked and it’s boosting local region economy,” Mr Commey indicated.
Meanwhile the Northern Regional Minister Salifu Saeed will this morning lead a health walk as to herald the parade next Wednesday. The walk will be followed by a peace concert Saturday evening.
International guests, according to the organising committee, will start arriving this weekend while the Special Guest of Honour, President of Niger Mahamadou Issoufou, will be arriving on March 6.
Rehearsal for the parade will continue at the Tamale Sports Stadium until Monday March 4.
Thirty contingents – made up of 18 contingents from the security services and
12 from various schools within the Tamale meetropolis and Sagnerigu Municipality- will participate in the parade.
Eleven interest groups with some representing the six newly created regions will also take part in the parade.
The day is being celebrated on the theme: “Celebrating Peace and Unity”.
Northern Regional Minister Salifu Saeed meanwhile urged residents to endervour to participate in the celebration.