Independence Day (Ghana)

The Independence Day of Ghana is a national holiday celebrated yearly and the day is granted as an official state holiday for the citizens of Ghana both within and in the diaspora to honour and celebrate the Heroes of Ghana who led the country to attain its independence. The Independence Day is celebrated on March 6 every year.[1] Independence Day is also remembrance of the day that marks the declaration of Ghanaian independence from the British colonial rule.[2] The first Prime Minister of Ghana; Kwame Nkrumah became the Head of Government from 1957 to 1960.[3] On the 6 March 1957 Kwame Nkrumah declared to the people of Ghana about their freedom, he added that, "the African People are capable of managing their own affairs and Ghana our beloved country is free forever."[4] Ghana was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to achieve its independence from European colonial rule.[5] Many Ghanaian who have had the chance to lead the country as Presidents have commemorated the occasion of Ghana Independence Day and have declared the day a public holiday for a celebration.[6] Granting the day as a national holiday is well recognized such that, if the 6th March of a year fell on a weekend of the Independence Day celebration,[7] the working day that follows which is a Monday will be granted and observed as a holiday by the whole nation.[8] Many Presidents from other African countries and Europe have been invited to Ghana to join in the celebration either as Guest Speakers or Invited Guests since the reign of former President Kwame Nkrumah till now.[9]

Independence Day
Ghana's 50th anniversary parade in 2007.
Also calledNational Day
Observed byGhana, Ghanaian diaspora
TypeNational.
SignificanceIndependence from British colonial rule in 1957.
DateMarch 6
FrequencyAnnual

Background

Ghana formerly known as the Gold Coast had many natural resources categorized into two as minerals and forest resources.[10] The mineral resources are gold and ivory, bauxite, diamond, and manganese, which enticed the Europeans.[11] There are also food and cash crops.[12][13] Many controversies arose among the European countries as to who should take charge of the Gold Coast due to its rich natural resources.[14] In 1874, the British took control over parts of Gold coast[15] although the Portuguese were the first to settle at Elmina in the Gold Coast in 1482.[16] After the British control, Gold Coast was named the British Gold Coast.[17][18] After the World War II, the British reduced its control over its colonies in Africa including the Gold Coast.[19] The United Gold Coast convention pioneered the call for independence within the shortest possible time after the Gold Coast legislative election in 1947.[20] Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was elected the leader of the Gold Coast government in 1952[21] after he won the Gold Coast legislative election in 1951.[22] Led by the big six, the Gold Coast declared its independence from the British on 6 March 1957.[23] The Gold Coast was named Ghana.[24]

Celebration History
Year Theme Venue
2013 Investing in The Youth For Ghana's Transformation[25] Independence Square (Accra)
2014 Building a Better and Prosperous Ghana through patriotism and National Unity[25] Independence Square (Accra)
2015 Achieving Transformation Through National Unity[26] Independence Square (Accra)
2016 Investing in the Youth for Ghana's Transformation[25] Independence Square(Accra)
2017 Mobilizing for Ghana's Future[27] Independence Square (Accra)
2018 Ghana Beyond Aid[28] Independence Square (Accra)
2019 Celebrating Peace and Unity[29] Aliu Mahama Stadium (Tamale)
2020 Consolidating our Gain[30][31] Baba Yara Sports Stadium (Kumasi)

The Independence Day was celebrated for the first time outside Accra in Tamale and Kumasi.[32][33] In 1957, the independence celebrations were attended by Martin Luther King Jr., President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.[34][35] The Bagad Lann Bihoue of the French Navy took part in the 60th anniversary celebrations.[36]

Independence Day marchpast By Pupils

Parade

Black Star Square is a site for Ghana's Independence Day parade, particularly the Trooping of the Colour aspect derived from the British era. A notable parade was the Golden Jubilee (celebrated the 50th anniversary of independence), which was led by President John Kufuor.[37][38] In 1961, Queen Elizabeth II, who until the year before was the Queen of Ghana, attended the parade as the British sovereign and took part in the inspection tour with President Nkrumah.[39]

See also

References
  1. "International FAS Awareness Day Celebrated Across the State". 2003. doi:10.1037/e506162006-011. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. Deshen, Shlomo (2018-01-16), "Chapter 5: State Ceremonies of Israel: Remembrance Day and Independence Day", Israeli Judaism, Routledge, pp. 75–85, doi:10.4324/9781351293921-5, ISBN 978-1-351-29392-1
  3. "Prime Minister 1957–60", Kwame Nkrumah. Vision and Tragedy, Sub-Saharan Publishers, pp. 192–214, 2007-11-15, doi:10.2307/j.ctvk3gm60.17, ISBN 978-9988-647-81-0
  4. "5 Things To Know About Ghana's Independence Day". Africa.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-10. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  5. "History of Ghanaian Independence Day". officeholidays.com. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  6. "Briefing: Consultants have considerable independence in their day to...". BMJ. 320 (7242): 3. 2000-04-22. doi:10.1136/bmj.320.7242.s3-7242. ISSN 0959-8138.
  7. Biskupski, M. B. B. (2012-09-20), "Independence Day and the Celebration of Piłsudski's Legend, 1935–39", Independence Day, Oxford University Press, pp. 83–98, doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199658817.003.0005, ISBN 978-0-19-965881-7
  8. "On This Day" BBC
  9. Rathbone, Richard (2004-09-23). "Nkrumah, Kwame (1909?–1972), president of Ghana". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/31504. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  10. "Ghana - Environment & Natural Resources". doi:10.1163/2213-2996_flg_com_081121. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. Gale, Fred P. (2011). Global commodity governance : state responses to sustainable forest and fisheries certification. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-230-51663-2. OCLC 705515560.
  12. "Trends in output, acreage and yield: all-crops, food crops and cash crops", Bengal Agriculture 1920–1946, Cambridge University Press, pp. 49–83, 1979-01-26, doi:10.1017/cbo9780511559877.005, ISBN 978-0-521-21579-4
  13. Paarlberg, Robert L. (October 2013). Food politics : what everyone needs to know. ISBN 978-0-19-932238-1. OCLC 841039487.
  14. "China Says Rich Countries Should Take Lead on Global Warming". Physics Today. 2007. doi:10.1063/pt.5.020837. ISSN 1945-0699.
  15. Ghana Independence Day 2020, retrieved 2020-08-04
  16. "History of Ghana". mobile.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  17. "Ahmadiyya Arrival in the Gold Coast", The Ahmadiyya in the Gold Coast, Indiana University Press, pp. 163–180, 2017, doi:10.2307/j.ctt2005s3h.13, ISBN 978-0-253-02951-5
  18. Cray, Ed. Kotler, Jonathan. Beller, Miles. Cray, Ed. American datelines. (2003). American datelines : major news stories from colonial times to the present. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0-252-07116-6. OCLC 50149617.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. "Asia: Japan, its Colonies, and its Territories 1900–1937". World History of Design. 2015. doi:10.5040/9781474246217.ch-017. ISBN 9781474246217.
  20. SYMEB, STEWART (1947). "The Gold Coast Legislative Council". African Affairs. 46 (185): 238–239. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.afraf.a093597. ISSN 1468-2621.
  21. "Leader of Government Business", Kwame Nkrumah. Vision and Tragedy, Sub-Saharan Publishers, pp. 92–102, 2007-11-15, doi:10.2307/j.ctvk3gm60.11, ISBN 978-9988-647-81-0
  22. "Kole, Nene Sir Emmanuel Mate, (7 Feb. 1860–30 Jan. 1939), Paramount Chief of Manya Krobo, Gold Coast; Member of Legislative Council, Gold Coast, since 1911", Who Was Who, Oxford University Press, 2007-12-01, doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u212467
  23. "Hawtayne, Lionel Edward, (died 28 March 1920), Puisne Judge, Gold Coast, since 1912", Who Was Who, Oxford University Press, 2007-12-01, doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u197662
  24. "Celebrating independence day in Ghana". www.ghanaweb.com. 2020-03-06. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  25. "Ghana's 59th Independence Day Parade in pictures". Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always. 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  26. Ghana, News. "2015 Ghana Independence Commemoration". Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  27. "Ghana celebrates 60 years of independence today". Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always. 2017-03-06. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  28. "Photos from Independence Day celebrations nationwide". Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always. 2018-03-06. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  29. "Ghana marks 62nd Independence day outside Accra for the first time – Public Records And Archives Administration Department". Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  30. "63rd Independence day parade to be held in Ashanti Region". Citi NewsRoom. 2020-02-04. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  31. "Today is Independence Day". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  32. "Ghana makes history as it marks 62nd Independence Day at a venue outside Accra for the first time". www.pulse.com.gh. 2019-03-06. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
  33. "Kumasi ready to host 63rd Independence Day Parade as preparations shape up". Citi NewsRoom. 2020-03-03. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  34. Gyamfi Asiedu, Kwasi (2020-03-06), "The trip to newly independent Ghana that inspired an iconic Martin Luther King sermon", Quartz Africa.
  35. "Ghana Trip", The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute, Stanford University.
  36. "Veep and the French Ambassador welcome the French Navy Pipe Band", GhanaWeb.
  37. Lentz, Carola (2013-09-16). "Ghana@50. Celebrating the Nation. Debating the Nation". Cahiers d'études africaines. 53 (211): 519–546. doi:10.4000/etudesafricaines.17405. ISSN 0008-0055.
  38. "Ghana celebrates 50 years that changed Africa". Reuters. 2007-03-06. Retrieved 2019-11-12.
  39. "ITN Roving Report: Ghana to Gambia", Getty Images.


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