The Minister of State for Government Communication, Felix Ofosu Kwakye has announced plans by President John Dramani Mahama to hold this year’s Independence celebration at the Jubilee House.
Instead of using the Independence Square in Accra or rotating it across the country as the previous government did, he said the President intended to streamline a modest yet cost-effective celebration.
“For that reason, he has decided that this year’s celebration will not take on the spectacular form that we have been used to over the years…We are going to have a significant ceremony at the Presidency and this will ensure that we minimise the huge financial implications that come with this celebration,” he announced at a presser on February 12.
Reason
According to him, this is necessitated by the need to fit all expenditures within the constrained budget and refocus expenditure on the most important areas that require government attention.
“He {President Mahama} is also minded by the callous state of the economy and the various competing needs and the fact that there are critical sectors of our national life that do not receive anything near adequate funding.
“He believes that at this moment in time, there is the need to reprioritize government expenditure and one area where savings can be made is this independence celebration. He believes that is possible to hold modest but significant event without breaking the national purse.”
