Government has assured Ghanaians that the decision to scale down this year’s Independence Day celebration does not undermine the importance of the occasion.
The Minister of State for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, stated that President John Mahama remains deeply committed to marking the day while adopting a more cost-effective approach.
“The Independence Day celebration is one that President Mahama takes very seriously,” he stated.
“He believes that it must be celebrated, except that it should be done in modesty and in a way that allows us to make savings that we can plow back into other areas of expenditure.”
Despite the scaled-down nature of the event, the core elements of the celebration remain intact, with security personnel and schoolchildren participating in the ceremony.
“In the past, there were 60 contingents made up of 60 men and women each. So you are talking close to 3,600 men and women and 1,000s of children who match. Now everything has been scaled down to a little over 500 people.
“That is both the security men and women and the school children who will be performing. This is to ensure that we do not incur the sort of costs that we incurred in the past.”
The public is encouraged to follow the event via live broadcasts on television, radio, and social media.
The Minister added that this approach balances national pride with economic prudence, ensuring that Ghana’s independence remains honoured without placing undue strain on public funds.
