Ghana marked its 67th Independence Day on Wednesday in Koforidua, Eastern Region, with Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara in attendance as Guest Speaker, alongside President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Speaker of Parliament and various diplomats.
The celebration was themed “Our Democracy Our Pride”. The independence celebration also saw commemorations in selected regions, districts and municipalities all over the country.
The Chronicle is, however, sad to hear from the Tamale Jubilee Park about reports that some 44 students and 26 security personnel reportedly fainted during the Independence Day ceremony.
The students and personnel stood in the scorching sun for hours and it is believed that might have resulted in their collapse, according to a myjoyonline report. Officials from the Ghana Red Cross Society, Ambulance Service and other Health workers present rushed to the rescue of the victims.
The acting Northern Regional Manager for the Red Cross Society, Yakubu Amin Abukari, in an interview said the total number of people who fainted was 72. He said they include six soldiers, five Policemen, seven Prison officers, six Fire officers and two Immigration officers.
Mr Abukari revealed that most of the students did not have breakfast before coming to the parade coupled with the hot weather in the region contributed to the fall. He claimed some students also faced spiritual attacks and they got someone to handle those cases.
The yearly Independence Day celebration March Pass is a great occasion for the school children as they will learn history lessons about the independence process and the sacrifice of freedom fighters who fought against the British colonial rule to gain Independence.
The children who are selected to march on are filled with pride as they get up early in morning and dress in their ceremonial school uniforms to participate in the mass drill, with the Head of State present at the event.
All these would go a long way to create a sense of patriotism in them. The Chronicle is therefore alarmed at the incidences of students and security personnel reportedly fainted during the Independence Day parade in Tamale and other places.
This unfortunate occurrence highlights several critical issues that need to be addressed to prevent such incidents from happening again in the future. First and foremost, the health and safety of individuals participating in public events must be prioritised.
Standing for hours under the scorching sun without proper hydration or breaks can lead to heat exhaustion and other heat-related illnesses, as demonstrated by the fainting episodes witnessed during the parade.
It is essential that the Organisers, security personnel and health officials collaborate to implement measures to mitigate the risk of heat-related incidents, such as providing shaded areas, access to water and scheduled breaks for participants.
The Chronicle is of the view that the reported cases of students not having breakfast before the parade highlight the importance of ensuring adequate nutrition for all participants, especially during physically demanding activities. Schools authorities should take proactive measures to ensure that students are properly nourished before engaging in strenuous activities like parades or outdoor events.
Moving forward, it is imperative that lessons are learned from this incident to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Organisers should conduct thorough risk assessments and implement comprehensive safety protocols to safeguard the health and well-being of all participants. Moreover, continuous monitoring and evaluation of events should be carried out to identify potential risks and address them proactively.
The Chronicle believes that through proactive measures and adopting a holistic approach to addressing health issues, we can ensure that such incidents are prevented, and all participants can safely enjoy and celebrate important national events.
