This year’s Independence Day celebration in the Obuasi East Municipality took a different turn, with only four cadet corps participating—marking a notable shift from the usual tradition.
The event was held at the Our Lady’s School Park in Kwabenakwa, where dignitaries, students, and residents gathered to observe the national occasion with pride and reflection.
In his keynote address, the Acting Municipal Chief Executive and Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr. Eric Aboagye-Mensah, reaffirmed the Assembly’s dedication to democratic governance, transparency, and inclusive development.
“As a municipality, we are committed to promoting democracy, good governance, and sustainable development. I urge all citizens to actively support initiatives and projects that seek to improve the lives of our people,” he said.
“Let us work together to build a brighter future for ourselves, our children, and generations to come.”
He urged attendees to reflect on the theme “Reflect, Review, Reset,” encouraging all Ghanaians to take stock of the nation’s progress and to rise to the challenges that still remain.
Touching on the modest scale of this year’s celebration, Mr. Aboagye-Mensah explained that the presidency’s directive to scale down costs had directly influenced the pared-back nature of the event.
“Unlike previous years, this celebration is more restrained due to guidance from the presidency to minimize costs. This is why we’re seeing fewer dignitaries and participating schools compared to the past,” he noted.
Also speaking at the event, the Municipal Director of Education, Mr. Kwabena Owusu Nketia, expressed satisfaction with the efficient and considerate organization of the event. He noted that the scaled-down nature made the celebration safer and more manageable.
“We’re happy that this year’s event was well-structured. No student collapsed, thanks to the reduced numbers and better coordination,” he stated.
Mr. Nketia further suggested that if the government continues to scale down Independence Day celebrations annually and redirects the saved resources to infrastructure development—such as building a classroom block for our schools each year—it would significantly help address the country’s educational infrastructure deficits.
He also extended an apology to schools and students who had prepared to participate in the celebrations prior to the change in directive.