Ghana Celebrates 68th Independence Day on a Shoestring - Kwakye Ofosu Reveals GH₵1.5M Budget
Accra, Ghana - 06 March, 2025 - Ghana marks its 68th Independence Day today with a low-key celebration at the Jubilee House in Accra, a deliberate move to slash costs without diminishing the significance of the occasion.
This year's event will cost a mere fraction of last year's GH₵15 million expenditure, with participation reduced from 3,600 to just over 500 people, including security personnel and schoolchildren, according to Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister of State in charge of Government Communications.
Despite the scaled-down nature of the event, Kwakye Ofosu emphasized that the celebration's importance remains unchanged. President Mahama reportedly takes the Independence Day celebration very seriously and believes it must be observed in a manner that allows for savings to be redirected into other areas of expenditure.
“In the past, there were 60 contingents made up of 60 men and women each. So we are talking close to 3,600 men and women and thousands of children who march'', Kwakye Ofosu stated in a video detailing preparations for the event.
“Now, everything has been scaled down to a little over 500 people. That includes both security personnel and schoolchildren who will be performing. This is to ensure that we do not incur the kind of costs we did in the past.
“I can reveal to you that the celebrations to be held here on Thursday will cost a tenth of what it took to host this event in Koforidua last year. That event cost GH₵15 million. What will be held here tomorrow will cost a tenth of that.''
“The scaled-down events in no way undermine the significance of the day. The Independence Day celebration is one that President Mahama takes very seriously. He believes it must be celebrated, but in a manner that allows us to make savings that can be redirected into other areas of expenditure,” he added.
Source: Lead News Online
