Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the MP for North Tongu has advised the government to be prudent in its expenditure towards this year’s Independence Day celebration.
Ablakwa was speaking in reference to the selection of the Volta Region as host of this year’s national event on 6 March.
“It gets to the turn of the Volta Region to host Independence Day; I sincerely hope that considering current debilitating economic conditions, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/Ofori-Atta government would avoid spending the staggering GHC10.4million (specifically GHS10,498,084.00) spent on our 65th in Cape Coast,” Ablakwa posted on Facebook.
“Even if [the] government is of the view that these commemorations should go ahead in this precarious period, extreme modesty and frugality must be the watchwords,” he aded.
Selection
Lord Commey, director of operations at the Office of the President, said the president had chosen the region as host of the national annual celebration in line with his personal commitment to rotate the event among the regions to enhance national cohesion.
He made this known when he led members of the National Planning Committee for the event into the region on Friday to inform traditional authorities of the development.
Commey first called on the Asogli Traditional Council and was led there by Divine Bosson, Ho municipal chief executive, and other stakeholders in the Region.
“The president has sent us to inform you of his decision to honour the people of Volta by getting the Region to host the 66th anniversary of Ghana’s independence. The independence square alone cannot continue to host this key celebration of Ghana’s freedom. He has decided this year that it is the turn of the Volta Region – the oxygen city of Ghana.”
He said the essence of the meeting was to seek the support of local stakeholders particularly traditional authorities, on the celebration, and that their input would be crucial to ensuring the event becomes a “full display of a national character.”
Commey also touted the gains for the local economy.
Fred Dzakpata
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