The government has decided to discontinue the rotational format of Ghana’s Independence Day celebration and national parade, traditionally held on March 6 each year, due to the prohibitive costs involved in organizing the event.
To reduce expenses, the government will now conduct the 68th Independence Day celebration at the Jubilee House.
This decision was communicated by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister of State responsible for Government Communications, on Wednesday, February 12, 2024.
He highlighted that the previous celebration in Ho incurred a cost of GHC15 million, raising concerns regarding the event’s long-term viability.
Mr. Kwakye Ofosu reassured the public that the ceremony at Jubilee House will include a military guard of honour and other important ceremonial elements to honor the nation’s independence.
“In recent years, there has been an initiative to rotate the celebration among various regional capitals. While the intentions behind this approach may have been commendable, President Mahama has requested the suspension of the rotational policy due to the necessity of cost reduction.
“This decision is imperative given the rising expenses. A review has indicated that the rotation added significant costs, and in light of our national budget being severely constrained by economic challenges, it is not feasible to continue with the rotation of the national celebration,” he stated.
