Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has announced that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) decision to downsize the Independence Day parade and hold it at the Jubilee House has resulted in significant cost savings of over $13 million.
According to the minister and lawmaker, hosting the Independence Day ceremony on a rotational basis across different regions in the past came with a hefty price tag of $15 million.
President John Dramani Mahama has ordered a scaled-down Independence Day celebration, scrapping the traditional parade and instead hosting a simplified event at the Jubilee House to cut costs.
President Mahama’s decision to scale down Ghana’s 68th Independence Day celebration is a move towards fiscal prudence, given the country’s current economic crisis.
Typically, these celebrations are held on a grand scale at the Black Star Square or Independence Square, with a rotation policy among regional capitals in recent years. However, these events come with significant costs, which the national budget can no longer afford.
By hosting a modest commemoration at the Jubilee House instead, the government aims to reduce expenditure while still marking the occasion.
This decision is expected to save the state around 95% of the estimated cost, which would have been around GHS 20 million if the celebration were held at Independence Square.
In a video to provide an update on preparations for the ceremony, he said, ‘’As you may be aware already, usually these celebrations are held on a grand scale at the Black Star Square or Independence Square, as most people know it. In the last few years, there was a policy of rotation among various regional capitals, but these celebrations came with significant costs, which at the moment, the national purse cannot bear. So President Mahama took a decision a few weeks ago to scale down the celebrations and bring it to the presidency.
In the past, there were sixty (60) contingents made up of sixty men and women each, so you are talking about close to 3,600 men and women and thousands of children who marched. Now everything has been scaled down to a little over 500 people.
That is both security men and women and school children who will be performing, and this is to ensure that we do not incur the sort of cost we incurred in the past. I can reveal to you that the celebration that will be held tomorrow will cost a tenth of what it cost to hold this event in Koforidua, and it cost $15 million to hold the Koforidua event. What would be held here will cost a tenth of that.’’
The decision to scale down Ghana’s Independence Day celebration doesn’t diminish its importance.
President Mahama wants to observe the day with modesty, allowing for savings to be allocated to other essential areas. The president takes the celebration seriously, but fiscal responsibility is key.
Additionally, only invited guests will be allowed to attend, as security will turn away those without invitations.
