Independence Day - 6th March

From 1902 until 1957 Ghana was a British colony, known as the Gold Coast. After many hard fought battles the Ghanaians eventually gained independence on 6th March 1957. Every year on 6th March Ghana celebrates Independence Day, a national holiday, and this year was the 53rd anniversary. In every town there are parades and speeches, and children play a major part in the celebrations.

Every year 32 children are selected from each school to march in the parade. For weeks the sounds of drums and marching have resonated around Jirapa as the children have practised, and several times I have witnessed it. At Tampoe Primary, our partner school, the children practised their marching every day from 7.30 until 8.15 in the morning. They often supervised themselves to do this, organising some very rhythmic drumming and well-timed marching.

On the morning of Independence Day (6th March fell on a Saturday this year) the schools all met at the large Jirapa Park at 6.30am ready to start the parade at 7am. In honour of the day I wore the traditional Ghanaian outfit that had been made for me by Dr Isaac’s wife back at the Cocoa Research Institute.

There was an air of anticipation as the children gathered and waited for the local dignitaries, who would be judging the standard of the marching, to arrive.

Then finally it all got underway, starting with the Kindergarten children, then moving onto the Primary Schools, the Junior High Schools, the Senior High Schools, and other community groups.

After the marching came the traditional dancing and speeches by the children...

To the amusement of the Ghanaians Aaron took part in some of the dancing with the children! He wore the traditional smock, designed for keeping cool, and a bag made from goatskin.

Finally one of the local dignitaries, Bernard Puozuin (District Chief Executive), made a speech about Ghana and independence before presenting prizes to the schools for their marching. There were first, second and third prizes in each category, and one of the schools I support, St Joseph’s Primary, was awarded third prize. The headteacher told me that the prize was some food and drink for the children and 10 cedis (about £4) for the schools to spend as they would like. Although £4 doesn’t sound like a lot of money, here in Ghana it will be enough to buy each of the children in the school a pen and pencil as a treat.