Ghana on Tuesday marked 61 years since it gained independence from British colonial rule led by its first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
A special and colourful ceremony was held at the country’s black stars square in the capital, Accra to mark the occasion which was graced by Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari.
Ghana which was the first country, sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence in 1957 led the way for other African countries to push for their own independence.
It was a promising story of an African country gaining its freedom and wanting to transform its economy and improve the well-being of its people.
Since the overthrow of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in 1966 through a military coup, the country has had series of military rulers with some analysts saying that significantly affected the growth of the country as was anticipated during independence.
Ghana however since 1992 after ushering it into a democratic dispensation under former President Jerry John Rawlings has seen an uninterrupted change of governments through peaceful elections, making it one of the peaceful countries in Africa.
Nigerian President Buhari in his speech urged both countries to deepen their cooperations to enhance their respective growth.
He added that Nigeria and Ghana have key roles to play in ensuring that the sub-regional body ECOWAS plays its role in transforming the regional bloc.
Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo Addo who became president after winning the 2016 presidential election told a huge gathering of people at the Independence day parade that “Even though underachievement may have been a major part of our history thus far, it should no longer be part of our destiny. The only nation we are destined to become is the one we choose and decide to be. We do not have to accept someone’s definition of Africa or of Ghana. We must define and craft our destiny.”
The Ghanaian president who has been preaching the message of Ghana and Africa beyond aid also said that “Since I became President, I have been advocating for a Ghana, indeed, an Africa Beyond Aid, and I am keen to have the support of all of us in this enterprise.”
“Nobody needs to spell it out to us that the economic transformation we aspire to will not come through Aid. We have been on this trajectory for sixty years and it has not happened. Aid was never meant to be what would bring us to a developed nation status,” Akufo Addo added.
Ghanaians have been reacting to the country’s independence anniversary on social media.
if you didn’t get the privilege of being born a Ghanaian im sorry #GhanaAt61 pic.twitter.com/if1HIngdfi
— nugget?? (@_ayoosamm) March 6, 2018
To the youth of Ghana: Never stop dreaming big or challenging the status quo. You have what it takes to do great things. Discipline yourself and develop a new African mindset that doesn’t feel inferior, and is never afraid to confront, tackle and overcome challenges. #GhanaAt61
— ?? Mensa Otabil (@MensaOtabil) March 6, 2018
Happy Independence Day to my motherland Ghana??! The land of gold, natural resources, hospitable people, and one of the world’s richest cultures?? #Ghana #Africa #GhanaAt61 #Ghana61YearsOn #GhanaTTrendz #GhanaFollowTrain #GhanaIndependence #GhanaianFollowTrain #❤?? pic.twitter.com/qDofXWZWYi
— M’banku?? (@Trill_Robb) March 6, 2018
The greatest country in the world is 61 today. ?? Happy Independence Day to all my Ghanaians #GhanaAt61
— Angela Rye Fan Account (@mannyveli1) March 6, 2018
God Bless Our Homeland Ghana…?? Beyond Aid… #believe #GhanaAt61 pic.twitter.com/541BCh4Daf
— KOJOHELPER PHOTOGRAPHY ?? (@KojoManchester) March 6, 2018
Dasiba! I get that we are commemorating our Independence Day – but what exactly are we supposed to be celebrating again? ? #GhanaAt61 #Ghana #Ghana61 pic.twitter.com/vG08W6A6fn
— Jemila Abdulai (@jabdulai) March 6, 2018
Happy Independence Day Ghana! ??????????????????#GhanaAt61 #GhanaBeyondAid pic.twitter.com/CeU2iu151H
— Juliet Bawuah (@julietbawuah) March 6, 2018
“The independence of Ghana ?? is meaningless unless it is linked-up with the total liberation of the African Continent.”
— Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah#Ghana61 #GhanaAt61 #WeCelebrateGhana #GhanaMustWork pic.twitter.com/EU4c2jqFOE
— Mac-Jordan ???? (@MacJordaN) March 6, 2018
Source: Africafeeds.com
