Ghana’s Independence Day Celebration to Be Scaled Down Amid Economic Challenges
The government, under President John Dramani Mahama, has announced plans to scale down this year’s Independence Day celebrations as part of cost-cutting measures. The annual national parade, which has been rotated among regional capitals in recent years, will now be held at Jubilee House, the seat of government, instead of Independence Square.
Speaking at a press briefing, Minister of State for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, explained that the decision comes in response to the high costs associated with the event. The 2023 celebration, held in Ho, incurred a significant expenditure of GH¢15 million.
"Whereas the intentions may be noble, President Mahama has asked that the rotational policy be suspended because of the need to scale down, and this has become necessary due to escalating costs. It has been discovered after some review that the rotation imposed additional cost, and therefore, at a time when our national budget is severely constrained due to economic difficulties, it was not going to be sustainable to keep rotating the national celebrations."
The minister further noted that shifting the event from regional capitals back to Accra was a strategic decision to reduce financial strain on the government.
"In the spirit of cutting down on non-essential expenditure, President Mahama has instructed that this rotational policy be suspended. In addition to this, the main celebration, which ordinarily would have taken place in Accra at Independence Square, has become the subject of some rollback."
Despite the changes, the government remains committed to marking the occasion in a meaningful way while maintaining fiscal responsibility. President Mahama acknowledges the importance of Independence Day in the country’s history but believes that a modest celebration can still uphold its significance.
"He believes that it is entirely possible to hold a modest but significant event to mark this important occasion without breaking the national purse."
The decision has sparked discussions among citizens, with some supporting the move as a necessary economic measure, while others feel the tradition should not be compromised.
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