Fourteen countries confirm participation in Ghana’s 60th Anniversary
The Ghana@60 Planning Committee on Sunday announced that 14 African countries have confirmed their participation in Ghana’s 60th Independence Anniversary celebration on Monday, March 6.
Mr Jefferson Sackey, the Spokesperson of the Committee, and Presidential Staffer, at a press briefing, said although all the 55 African countries were invited, 14 of them had so far confirmed their participation as at 1600 hours on Sunday, March 5.
They include Zimbabwe, Zambia, The Gambia, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Algeria, Morocco, Togo, Rwanda, Guinea, Mali, Gabon and Liberia.
He said some Heads of State and Prime Ministers would personally attend the anniversary while other countries would be represented by their Speakers of Parliament and Foreign Ministers.
Mr Sackey urged the accredited media personnel to co-operate with the security services and respect the security arrangements put in place at the Independence Square to ensure a successful celebration.
According to him, the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, the state broadcaster, would provide clean feed to all media houses that were interested in providing live coverage since it was the only media house accredited to take sound and video footage. The rest of the media houses are to tap from them.
He said the Committee had given accreditation to 150 media personnel and there would be two press boxes to accommodate them.
The theme for the celebration is: ‘‘Ghana, 60 years On – Mobilising for the Future’’
Mr Sackey gave the run-down of the arrival of the various dignitaries and invited guests to the parade ground.
He said the various security contingents and the general public would arrive at 0800 hours while the Service Commanders would arrive at 0820 hours, and the Chief of Defence Staff and the Inspector General of Police would arrive at 0825hours.
At 0830 hours there would be the arrival of the diplomatic corps, Members of Parliament, Ministers of State and Members of the Council of State.
At 0845 hours there would be the arrival of former presidents and their spouses.
At 0850 hours, the Chairperson of the Council of States would arrive and the Chief Justice and Speaker of Parliament would arrive at 0855 hours.
At exactly 0900 hours, the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and his spouse would arrive while the invited Heads of State would arrive at 0905hours.
The security contingents and mass band would display their marching skills at 0930 hours.
The President of the Republic, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, would arrive at the parade ground at exactly 1000 hours.
When the GNA visited the venue on Sunday, the various decoration and technical teams were feverishly putting finishing touches to the parade ground.
The national colours of Red, Yellow, Green and Black were conspicuously seen at the various stands and poles and draped on trees leading to the venue.
Some security personnel were also seen at vantage points of the square keeping an eagle-eye of all the activities ahead of the celebration.
Source: GNA