Euphoria and excitement are gradually gaining momentum among the residents of the Eastern region, particularly those in the regional capital, as they gear up for the 67th National Independence Day Celebration
The Celebration, which will be marked at the newly built Youth Resource Centre in the Eastern regional capital, Koforidua, on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 is on the theme: “Our Democracy, Our Pride”. It will be the first Independence celebration ever to take place in the region.
The President of Cote d’Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara, is expected to grace the ceremony, as the Guest of Honour. Two former Presidents, John Agyekum Kufuor and John Dramani Mahama would also be there. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would take the salute.
Also in attendance will be the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, Supreme Court Justices, as well as all the 275 Members of Parliament (MPs).
The President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, who is also the Konor of Manya Krobo, Nene Sakite II and all the 11 paramount chiefs in the region, as well as members of the diplomatic corps, representing 120 countries, members of the Council of State will also be present.
The rest of the most important dignitaries who are likely to grace the occasion are Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and their Co-ordinators.
Eighteen groupings of various bodies in the 16 regions will equally make their presence felt.
A total of 21 contingents drawn from the various security services and 11 schools in the Eastern region will be on parade, aside from other cultural groups and Civil Society Organisations among other associations.
Addressing media practitioners on activities for the historic celebration at the Regional Coordinating Council, the Regional Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong, described the celebration as an enviable honour to the region.
According to him, the celebration is not only an honour to the region, but symbolic and historic because it is the last independent day celebration under President Akufo Addo’s regime as the son of the region.
Throwing light on the rotation, the regional minister indicated that in 2017, President Akufo-Addo decided to rotate the venue of the independence celebration, which hitherto was held only in Accra, the national capital.
He explained that the rotation was to boost the economy of the various regions and open them to the outside world, adding that this celebration would go a long way to project the Eastern region and its rich culture to the rest of the world.
The Eastern regional minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong, was happy the region had been selected for the national event, as it would boost their economy and show the rich culture of the region to the outside world.
He said adequate preparations had been made to deliver a beautiful and successful celebration and thanked the President for choosing the region for the event.
Mr Acheampong called on the people, chiefs, queen mothers, political parties, youth groups, traders and artisans among others, to get on board to make the event memorable.
