DEAF, BLIND STEAL SHOW..At Indece parade in Wa (SPREAD, MARCH 8, 2010)

WITH brisk strides and serious demeanour, pupils from the mentally retarded schools in Wa and other physically challenged schools, including the Wa School for the Deaf and the Wa Methodist School for the Blind, stole the show at this year’s Independence Day parade held at the Naa Sidiki Bomi II Park in Wa, the Upper West regional capital.
The pupils who were part of the 43 contigents, comprising 1,226 students and pupils selected from first and second cycle educational instutions in the municipality, were the toast of the audience who cheered and applauded them.
The parade, which for the first time was without contigents from the security agencies, was supposed to have started at 6:30a.m. in order to avoid the scorching sun, started at 7:00a.m., by which time the park was already filled to capacity.
The impressive ceremony was witnessed by a 15-member delegation from the South-west Region of Burkina Faso led by the Governor, Colonel Sawudogo Pascal, who lauded the existing relations between the two countries and stressed the need for more co-operation, especially in the area of security.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, reviewed the parade with the Regional Director of Education, Mr Fabian Belieb.
In an address, Mr Khalid urged the people of the region to eschew all forms of conflicts and divisiveness, and noted that if the region needed to fight any enemy, then that enemy must be poverty rather than conflicts.
He advised students to stay away from drugs and bad company and rather concentrate more on their studies.
The regional minister also paid tribute to Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah and others who struggled with him to attain independence for Ghana and called for the support of all Ghanaians in the quest to make the “Better Ghana” agenda of the government a reality.
Awards were later presented to some institutions and personalities.
From Kumasi, George Ernest Asare, reports that 42 contingents, made up of six cadet corps from Kumasi High, Yaa Asantewaa Girls, Kumasi Secondary Technology, KNUST Senior High School, Kumasi Girls and Opoku Ware School, as well as some second cycle and basic schools, participated in the 53rd Independence Day anniversary parade held at the Jubilee Park
The parade, at which the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku Manu, was the reviewing officer, was attended my many dignitaries, including the Bantamahene, Baffour Asare Owusu Amankwatia, who represented the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Other dignitaries who attended the anniversary parade which started at about 9.00a.m. after the arrival of the minister, were the acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) the Northern Sector, Colonel Anthony K. Asare, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Patrick Timbilla, the Regional Fire Officer, ACFO Mr P.A. Mensah, the Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Samuel Sarpong , the clergy, leadership of the Muslim community and a cross-section of the public.
The youth filled the stands of the Jubilee Park in their numbers to witness the parade, which was commanded by George Osei Amoabeng.
Yaa Asantewaa Senior High School cadet was adjudged the best among all other cadet corps, receiving a magnificent trophy from Mr Kofi Opoku Manu, the Regional Minister.
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Senior High cadet and Kumasi High cadet were adjudged the second and third best cadets respectively for the quick march past, and they received a plaque each for their achievements.
In the second cycle category, the Serwaa Nyarko Senior High School took the first position in the quick march past, and for their prize, they were presented with a giant trophy.
The National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) and the Kumasi Academy Senior High came second and third respectively in that category, and each was presented with a plaque.
In the basic schools category, Oforikrom Sub Metro, led by Weweso Junior High School, was adjudged the best in the quick march past and took away a trophy for their prize.
The second position went to Kwadaso Sub Metro, led by Prempeh Junior High, with Asokwa Sub Metro, led by T.I. Ahmadiyya Junior High taking the third position .
The Best Environmental Friendly Basic School trophy went to Odumase Experimental, with Danyame M/A at Nhyiaso, taking the second position. Cambridge International was adjudged the third best in that category.
In an address, Mr Opoku Manu reminded parents of their responsibility towards their children, saying, “You must ensure that your children are not allowed to be carried away by the trappings of society and other anti-social activities that seem to be on the ascendancy,” he advised.
“Children are the only properties we have and we must ensure that they are brought up in a manner that will help them grow up as good and patriotic citizens,” he added.
He reminded the youth of concentrating on their books and avoiding behaviours that would prevent them from achieving their aspirations in life.
He said it was equally important for the youth to be circumspect in their utterances. “The constitution certainly allows freedom of speech. This, however, should not give licence to our young men and women to unduly make unguided statements that may cast a slur on the integrity of other highly-placed persons in society,” he cautioned.
Nurudeen Salifu reports, from Tamale that primary, junior high schools and second-cycle schools took part in the march past at the Jubilee Park to mark Ghana’s 53rd Anniversary celebrations.
The Red Cross, Girl Guides, Boy Scouts, Caring Kids International (OneforHaiti project) and other voluntary organisations also took part in the march.
There were also traditional performances, poetry recitals, acrobatic displays and speeches from schoolchildren and dance performances by dancers from the Centre for National Culture.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Bukari Mabengba, who inspected the parade, noted that, in line with “Investing in the Youth for a Better Ghana”, the government had commenced the Free School Uniform and Exercise Books schemes.
He revealed that the region had taken receipt of 2,692,569 school uniforms and 73,378 exercise books to be distributed to children in the region through the metropolitan, municipal and district education units.
Mr Mabengba entreated children and the youth of the region to stay away from acts that would expose them to sexually transmitted diseases.
He said the 2008 HIV Report had indicated that the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the region had fallen from 3.8 to 3.0 per cent, and thus encouraged the youth to continue to eschew immoral behaviour.
From Bolgatanga, Benjamin Xornam Glover reports that 72 contingents, comprising 2,160 schoolchildren selected from first and second cycle schools and a cadet corps from the Bolgatanga Technical Institute took part in the 53rd independence celebration parade at the St. Johns Park in Bolgatanga last Saturday.
The parade, which was under the command of Godfred Amagnyona, Bolgatanga Technical Institute cadet, had the Ghana Police Band providing music for the quick march past.
The Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, assisted by the acting Regional Director of Education and the Regional Police Commander, ACP Mr Bright Oduro took the salute.
Mr Woyongo, in his anniversary address, noted that poverty had continued to be the number one enemy of the people, and said that had been exacerbated by violence, ethnic and land conflicts in some parts of the region.
He, therefore, called on the chiefs and opinion leaders as well as well-meaning citizens to support his administration to find lasting solutions to the challenges facing the region.
The acting Regional Director of Education, Mrs Agnes Atagabe, while commending the government for fulfilling some of its campaign promises, also appealed to teachers in the region to continue to offer their best and put smiles on the faces of children as well as stakeholders of education by improving contact hours and teaching learning outcomes at all levels.
A 21-member delegation from the neighbouring Central South Region in Burkina Faso, led by the Secretary General, Mr Issah Campoare, graced the occasion.
In a related development, schools in the Bolgatanga West B Circuit who for a very long time have not had the opportunity to participate in the regional event, organised their own independence celebration parade at Sumbrungu, seven miles away from Bolgatanga.
The event, which was held a day prior to the national celebration, saw 10 schools participating in the parade.
The Circuit Supervisor, Mr Timothy Allou, who said the event would be an annual one, explained that it would enable the children in the circuit to feel being part and parcel of the national celebration, urging the municipal assembly to support the organisation of the parade for the children.
Twenty-five schools drawn from basic and secondary schools in the Ho Municipality converged at the Jubilee Park to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of Ghana’s independence, reports Victor Kwawukume.
All those who took part in the parade, numbering about 2,000, marched in a parade which was reviewed by the Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, and accompanied by the Regional Director of Education, Mr Gabriel Kploanyi, and the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Volta Region, Mr David Ampah-Bennin.
In the end, awards and certificates were given in separate categories with OLA Girls Senior High School coming first in the cadet category, Mawuli Secondary School came first in the Senior High School category, Dora Memorial Junior High came first in the Junior High category, while Kabore Primary came first in the primary category.
There was a colourful display of national colours and an indigenous display of the culture of the region, coupled with melodious tunes from groups of the Volta Regional Centre for National Culture.
The regional minister, in his address, said the theme for the celebration, “Investing in the Youth”, should propel the youth to be focused and be guided to shun all acts and activities that would deny them the glory that comes with hard work, determination and diligence.
He also affirmed the government’s commitment to policies on education which had become evident in the increase in Capitation Grant, provision of free exercise books and the enhancement of the School Feeding Programme.
Mr Amenowode also advised students, teachers and parents to keep abreast of government’s policies and programmes for them to be aware of the various steps that the government was taking to make the ‘Better Ghana Agenda’ a reality.