Clean-up exercises mark Independence Day celebrations in districts

The usual parades that have characterised the celebration of Ghana’s independence from the British 68 years ago, were absent in the regions this year. 

This follows the decision by the government to cut down the excessive costs that have come to be associated with the commemoration.

In place of marching schoolchildren, organised groups and security personnel, many metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies embarked on clean-up exercises to rid the streets and the environment of filth.

So instead of the neatly polished shoes, the well-ironed dresses and the paces of the well-drilled security personnel and students that all had become accustomed to, there were wheelbarrows, shovels, brooms and coveralls as Ghana marked its 68th Independence anniversary.

 Cleanup

Our reporter, Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor, writes that in the Upper West Region, the Wa Municipal Assembly organised a clean-up exercise in some of the communities in the municipality as part of its contribution to the low-key celebration of the 68th Independence Day celebration.

Some areas where the exercise took place included Kambali, Residency and Nayori.

Supported by Zoomlion Ghana Limited and some of the security services, the personnel swept the streets and cleared some choked gutters in the municipality.

Contribution

Speaking to the media, the Wa Municipal Coordinating Director, Adams Imoro, said following the President’s directive for a modest celebration, the assembly decided to use the occasion for a clean-up exercise.

He said the assembly had in the past been organising such exercises to keep the city clean and hinted at the reintroduction of the exercise very soon.

He said henceforth, every quarter the assembly would organise the clean-up exercise to clear the city of filth.

Mr Imoro said the assembly spent a chunk of its Internally Generated Fund (IGF) on waste management and believed that through the introduction of the quarterly clean-up exercises, the assembly would be able to reduce its expenditure on waste management.

The acting Wa Municipal Fire Commander, Assistant Divisional Officer (ADOI) Imran Iddrisu, bemoaned the apathy of the residents towards the exercise.

He was surprised at the low turnout of residents even though it was for their benefit.

Rather than assisting the community, “We are now doing the work,” he said.

ADO I Iddrisu blamed the assembly members for failing to mobilise their community members to join the exercise.

Consequently, all the 11 districts in the region used the day to clean their communities and keep the environment clean.

Kumasi

In Kumasi, Emmanuel Baah reports that the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, led security personnel, corporate bodies, students and market women to clean parts of Kumasi, to observe this year's Independence Day celebration.

As of 6 a.m., the minister, together with some members of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), including the Regional Police Commander, DCOP Emmanuel Teye Cudjoe, and General Officer Commanding Central Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, Brigadier General Michael Opoku, had arrived at the central business district.

The team cleared choked gutters at Kejetia, the Central Market area, Pampaso, and later moved to Aboabo to clean the community.

During the exercise, all shops within the central business district were temporarily closed down, with some traders joining city authorities to embark on the exercise.

In a brief remark after the exercise, Dr Amoakohene commended residents for coming out in their numbers to support the exercise.

He expressed worry about encroachment on major roads in the city, adding that all such illegal structures would be pulled down to bring sanity on the roads.

For its part, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), organised a symposium for some selected basic schools and senior high schools at the Prempeh Assembly Hall at Fante Newtown in Kumasi to observe the 68th Independence Day celebration.

It was held on the theme: " Reflect, Review & Reset".

The students, through choreography, poetry recitals and cultural display, depicted how the nation gained independence and freed its people from colonial rule.

Present were the Coordinating Director of the KMA, Francis Dwira Darko, the Ashanti Regional Education Director, David Oppong, traditional leaders and some teachers of the selected schools.

Ayem Oda

From the Birim Central Municipality, Akyem Oda in the Eastern Region, however, Samuel Kyei-Boateng, reports that 500 students from 18 basic and senior high schools and two tertiary educational institutions participated in a parade without the involvement of the security services to mark the 68th anniversary of Ghana’s independence.

The ceremony attracted many dignitaries including the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akyem Oda, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, the Municipal Director of Education, Gloria Kelsom, the Second-in-Command at the Jungle Warfare School, Major Edward Mingle, heads of department, headmasters of the various SHS at Oda and the executive members of the Oda Constituency of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Addressing the participants, the Birim Central Municipal Coordinating Director, Haruna Amadu Zure, urged Ghanaians to be bold enough to correct their shortcomings and chart new paths for national progress.

The MP for Oda, Mr Akwasi Acquah, called for unity among Ghanaians to rebuild the nation. He also advised the students to study hard to become responsible future leaders.

The municipal assembly honoured outstanding performers in the 2024 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) by presenting them with certificates and school bags.

A former student of the Oda Ridge Experimental School, Amadu Zure Abdul-Samed, who is currently pursuing further studies at the Presbyterian Boys Senior High School, Legon, emerged the overall best performer in the 2024 BECE in the municipality and was honoured with a certificate and school bag.