On the 6th of March 1957, Ghana gained freedom from her colonial masters.
Ghana became independent. On that day, several activities took place to mark the Independence Day of Ghana. Since then, 6th of March has been recognised as Independence Day in Ghana and thereby a public holiday.
Among the several activities that took place, was the march-past by students and some other groups in the country. This was to signify Ghana’s liberation from colonial rule. It looked beautiful. Pupils dressed in their school uniforms and displayed their marching skills at a parade. Other groups too dressed in their best and gave out wonderful performances during the Independence Day celebration.
It has been 67 years of Ghana’s independence, yet, this tradition of march-past still goes on. What is its significance in our current dispensation?
Almost every year, school children collapse under the hot sun while waiting for their turn to march. Yes. Every year, someone is sent to the hospital during these parades. Can’t we have other innovative ways to celebrate our ‘self-acclaimed’ independence? Why should school children keep on marching during Independence Day parade? They spend most of their classes-hours preparing on the sun to come and display to the public at Independence Day parades. Why? What is the importance of such practice?
It is high time we liberate ourselves from such activities.
67 years of Ghana’s independence and we do not really have independence to showcase to our world. We keep on ‘begging’ from the very colonisers who we claim we attained independence from. Is that independence? Are we not being seen as beggers?
Look at how rich Ghana is, yet Ghana is poor. So sad! Name most of the precious minerals, and traces can be found here in Ghana. The gold, bauxite, manganese, oil and even lithium, they are all here in Ghana. But what do we see? Ghana crawls to IMF, World Bank to beg for money. Money that we could have easily raised here in Ghana without external help.
Let us come together as a country to work out our independence and stop this march-past during Independence Day parade.
Can’t we even forgo this celebration for a while and then use that budget we prepare for those parades to develop our country? What is the essence of this Independence Day celebrations if we cannot cater for our basic needs as a country? Where are the infrastructures? Where are the social amenities? And the list goes on.
Ghana, it is time to come alive! It is time to work out our independence “with fear and trembling.” It is possible. We can change the narrative. But then, we need a shifting of mind.
Ghana must arise!
Thank you.
Written by:
Kumado Augustine Kwabla
Email: [email protected]