Ghana@60 celebrations to cost GH¢20m
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Thursday disclosed that the cost of celebrating Ghana’s celebration 60th anniversary, estimated at GH¢20 million, would be borne by the Corporate sector and not the state.
“Marking such an occasion will cost us some money, this Diamond Jubilee commemoration is estimated to cost GH¢20 million and I’m hoping that individual Ghanaians, the Ghanaian private sector, the Corporate Sector in particular, will provide the funds for the anniversary,” he said at the official unveiling and launching of the of the Logo and activities for the celebrations at the Flagstaff House, Accra.
“My ambition is to commemorate this anniversary with a minimal, or no burden at all on the national treasury …This must be a Ghanaian undertaking in its true sense and I’m appealing to all Ghanaians to chip in to make a success of this important undertaking.”
President Akufo-Addo said Ghana as a country had every reason to mark the occasion, rallying Ghanaians to use the occasion to renew their commitment to making Ghana a better place.
“We have every reason to celebrate, we have reason to reflect, and we have a reason to challenge ourselves today, because there are Ghanaians, many of them unsung, who have distinguished themselves quietly, meaningfully, modestly, some have blazed the trail in this country and across the world….we must tell the Ghanaian story first to ourselves.
“I know that the torch of independence was lit well and still burns in many hearts across the country. It is the dream of the founders of our nation that Ghana, free progressive prosperous Ghana, would be the beacon of Africa and the light of the world.
“Our generation will continue to be inspired by that dream…“We are industrious and determined people and together we can and must build our beloved nation.” President Akufo-Addo said.
The Anniversary Celebration is themed: “Mobilising for Ghana’s Future”. And the Logo is symbolic of the diversity of Ghana and the aspirations of Ghanaians for dignity and prosperity.
President Akufo-Addo said that as part of the activities to mark the Diamond Jubilee, an anniversary torch would move through all the ten regions of Ghana to “encourage citizens to participate where they live and work, supporting domestic tourism and an opportunity daily to reflect, celebrate, renew and challenge ourselves to define the spirit ‘I am a Ghanaian’.”
Additionally, the President has instructed the planning committee to come up with a plan to develop significant projects that can stand as national monuments for the diamond jubilee celebration.
“In the coming weeks and in the course of the anniversary year, each of us will have an opportunity to renew our commitment to this blessed land Ghana…lets continue to mobilise for Ghana’s future and give meaning to the statement, ‘I am a Ghanaian’,” President Akufo-Addo said.
Source: GNA