TANO SOUTH CELEBRATES 68TH INDEPENDENCE DAY ANNIVERSARY

The Tano South Municipal version of the 68^th anniversary celebration of Ghana’s Independence was celebrated in a grand style with a smart turnout of School Children, Artisans and Market Women.

The year’s anniversary saw an increase in the number of participating Schools and School Children who were smartly dressed to meet the occasion.

The Municipal Coordinating Director for the Tano South Mr. Augustine Peprah who acted as the Municipal Chief Executive in the company of the Municipal Director of Education, Mrs. Agnes Amihere and the Municipal Police Commander, ASP Kofi Darko inspected the parade formed by the School Children and other groups.

 Tano South Municipality joined the rest of the nation to commemorate the day, embracing the celebration’s theme, “Reflect, Review, and Reset,“. The celebration was held at Presbyterian School Park, Bechem, was a grand success, drawing together a diverse gathering of citizens, students, and dignitaries in a vibrant display of patriotism and national pride.

Delivering the 68th Independence Anniversary speech on behalf of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, the President of the Republic of Ghana, the Tano South Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr. Augustine Peprah welcomed everyone and acknowledged the patriotic display of the students. He also conveyed greetings from the President H.E. John Dramani Mahama to the good people of Bechem.

Emphasizing on the significance of the day and the theme, he explained that the theme invites us to pause, look back on the nation’s journey so far, evaluate our current state, and chat a new course for development.

Mr. Peprah, highlighted Ghana’s emergence as a beacon of freedom, being the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence on March 6, 1957. He attributed this monumental achievement to the sacrifices of our forefathers, who yearned to see a better Ghana, and stressed on the need for the nation to celebrate these heroes on this day.

He indicated that despite Ghana’s progress since independence, the nation still grapples with issues like corruption, youth unemployment, economic hardships, emigration, and social injustice. He urged for a collective action to address these challenges, highlighting on the government’s commitment to resetting Ghana. He further called for selflessness, patriotism, and a collective rejection of corruption and greed.

Bringing his speech to a conclusion, Mr. Peprah made a call to action, urging for unity and support for the resetting agenda. He underscored the importance of unity, quoting the adage “united we stand, divided we fall.” He also encouraged students and pupils to seize opportunities for self-development, striving to become valuable and responsible citizens in the future, advising them to be mindful of the choices they make as they grow, and reminded parents to instill good behavior and discipline in their children. He wished everyone a happy 68th Independence Day.

Giving his keynote address, the Member of Parliament for Tano South, Hon. Charles Kwasi Asiedu, welcomed all and expressed his gratitude to the people of Tano South Constituency for electing him as their Member of Parliament.

Hon. Asiedu acknowledged the uniqueness of this year’s celebration, citing that although the usual activities were scaled down due to economic realities, the essence of the celebration remains unchanged. He stressed on the significance of the 68th Independence celebration by honoring the sacrifices made by Ghana’s forbearers in securing freedom from colonial rule. He further explained that their courage and vision laid the foundation for modern Ghana, emphasizing the need for Ghanaians to ‘Reflect, Review, and Reset’ in line with the government’s theme for the celebration.

Hon. Asiedu said that while Tano South has made significant progress in various development areas since 1957, some pressing challenges still persist in the areas of access to quality education and healthcare, reliable electricity and clean water, good road networks, and sustainable jobs.

He pledged to work tirelessly to champion the needs of the constituency, advocate for development, and ensure that the voices of the people are heard. To achieve this, he expressed his commitment to use the MP’s quota under the District Assembly Common Fund and other statutory funds fairly and judiciously to address the pressing needs of the constituency.

He again announced plans to collaborate with key stakeholders, including the Municipal Chief Executive and Regional Minister, to review developmental projects, reflect on unique needs, and reset the constituency’s trajectory.

Hon. Asiedu mention several developmental projects and initiatives highlighted in the NDC manifesto, including food security and climate-resilient infrastructure projects, local food production, and the establishment of special zones in the Ahafo region which will be implemented to benefit the municipality. He also said that he would advocate for the swift implementation of other initiatives, such as the Teacher Dabr3 initiative, a 20% allowance for teachers posted to rural areas, the Farmer Service Centers, and the formalization of commercial motorcycle businesses. These initiatives were outlined in the recent State of the Nation address by H.E. John Dramani Mahama.

Hon.  Asiedu, urged all stakeholders to put aside political affiliations and work together to improve the lives of the people and support the reset agenda. He emphasized on the need to fight against corruption, demand accountability, and protect the public purse.

Hon. Charles Asiedu thanked the people for their support and trust, and encouraged everyone to celebrate the Independence Day with pride and hope, knowing that the best days of Tano South constituency and Ghana are ahead. He wished everyone a happy Independence Day.

In a closing remark, Nana Boadi Amponim who chaired the programme congratulated all the participating groups for their smart turn out and brisk marching and called on all and sundry to contribute meaningfully to the development of the country since Ghana has gone far with 68^th years of independence but a lot needs to be done. Nana called on all to support the government to be able to implement its policies and programmes so as to move Ghana forward.