GHANA CELEBRATE 59th INDEPENDENCE DAY ANNIVERSARY TOMORROW

 Ghana  will tomorrow celebrate its 59years after gaining independence from its colonial masters, Britain. 

The annual celebration which is observed every year 6th of March  seeks to honour those who fought to gain independence for Ghana and to also discuss on the achievements made after 59 years of independence.  The day is characterized by street parties, parades by security personnel and school children at Independence Square Osu. The President takes the salute and delivers a speech on behalf of the government. There are also live musical stage performances and cultural displays by traditional dance groups to mark the day.

The theme for this year's celebration is "Investing in the Youth for Ghana's Transformation" with Kenyan President, H.E Uhuru Kenyatta attending as the Special Guest of Honour. President John Dramani Mahama will on Sunday 6th March review a national parade of school children, voluntary organisations and security services at the Black Star Square to commemorate the 59th Anniversary of our Independence.

President Mahama, who is expected to be joined by two visiting heads of state, will deliver the Independence Anniversary Address after a march past by security personnel and school children, drills and equipment display by the security agencies and performances by various groups.

There will also be parades in all regional and district capitals across the country, while the country's missions abroad will also host National Day events across the world.

Ghana declared independence from United Kingdom on 6th March 1957. This was the result of the efforts of "The Big Six" leaders of Ghana, who in 1947 formed United Gold Coast Convention which called for the self-governance. In 1949, Convention People’s Party was formed by Kwame Nkrumah, who was also a member of the Big Six, and led the party in the struggle for freedom. In 1957, demanding for self-governance, the coastal Gold Coast region declared independence from United Kingdom. Ghana became independent on 6th March 1957 and the first African nation to do so.

The scene of the independence was set in August 1947 when The Big Six (Ebenezer Ako-Adjei, Edward Akufo-Addo, Joseph Boakye Danquah, Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey, Kwame Nkrumah and William Ofori Atta) formed the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) which was exploring ways to independence. Kwame Nkrumah became the General Secretary of the convention. In February 1948, 68 ex-servicemen, protesting against the rising cost of living were killed and injured in a police firing, leading to public outrage and protests. Government suspected the role of UGCC and arrested Kwame Nkrumah and other leaders. After the release, Kwame Nkrumah led the youth movement in 1948 and hitchhiked across the nation proclaiming that Gold Coast now needs self-governance. Cocoa farmers and trade unions supported the movement and built a powerful base to form the Convention People’s Party (CPP) in 12th June 1949.

  Nkrumah also organized a campaign called "Positive Action" which included non-cooperation, strikes, boycotts and civil disobedience. The regime immediately arrested Nkrumah and its many supporters. This act earned Britain international protests and severe internal resistance. Following this, first general elections were organized in 1951 under universal franchise in which CPP won in a landslide. After the release, Nkrumah declared Ghana independent on 6th March 1957. 

Ghana was the first black African country to gain

independence on the 6th March 1957.  Dr Kwame Nkrumah

was the first prime minister of Ghana and in his first speech

 said “Ghana, your beloved country is free forever”

The Duchess of Kent attended the ceremony and read a message from the Queen, in which she said “The hopes of many, especially in Africa, hang on your endeavours. It is my earnest and confident belief that my people in Ghana will go forward in freedom and justice.”

In reply, Dr Nkrumah said: “My government fully realises both the advantages and the responsibilities involved in the achievement of independence. It intends to make full use of these advantages to increase the prosperity of the country.”