GHANA @ 63 — CELEBRATIONS OF FREEDOM, AND BEAUTIFUL DISPLAY OF CULTURE

6 min readMar 7, 2020

A pronouncement made on 6th March 1957 saw the birth of a new country and the end of over 3-centuries-long slavery and colonial rule. The Gold Coast was ruled by the Brits. Until the formation of UGCC which saw the revolution for Freedom against the colonial rule. Formed by the following men who were later dubbed the “Big Six” Danquah, Nkrumah, Ofori-Atta, Obetsebi-Lamptey, Akufo-Addo and Ako Adjei.

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The movement began its work on the 4th of August 1947, where a group of family and friends together with other freedom fighters joined hands to converge at Saltpond the then Capital of Gold Coast of the soon to be country.

A declaration and call to action made by J.B. Danquah “We have come from all the corners of this country, come to Saltpond for a specific purpose: for a decision. We have come to take a decision whether our country and people are any longer to tolerate a system of government under which those who are in control of government are not under the control of those who are governed… We must have, here and now, if we are to be governed, a new kind of freedom, a Gold Coast freedom, a Gold Coast liberty. We left our homes in Ghana and came down here to build for ourselves a new home. There is one thing we brought with us from ancient Ghana [870 years ago]. We brought with us our ancient freedom. Today the safety of that freedom is threatened, has been continuously threatened for 100 years, since the Bond of 1844, and the time has come for a decision.”

Gold Coast was on the path to freedom, a fine young gentle freedom fighter Francis Kofi Nwiah Kwame Nkrumah was invited by the group as a Secretary of the UGCC, but Kwame Nkrumah’s quest for freedom was characterized in the slogan “SELF GOVERNMENT NOW”.

His success was something that was hailed by many, Kwame’s success in leading the youth for in the fight for freedom was achieved and he further became the Prime Minister of the country.

On the 6th of March, 1957 he made a wonderful pronouncement for the newly created INDEPENDENT country.

The COUNTRY GHANA.

It was at independence that the name “Gold Coast” was changed to “Ghana”.

“At long last, the battle has ended! And thus, Ghana, your beloved country is free forever!

His speech was characterized by awakening the sense of unity, trust, and the quest for the total liberation of Africa.

Over the years the celebrations were held in the new Capital City of Ghana, Accra. Until the son of a former freedom fighter and founding member of UGCC Mr. Akuffo Addo who decided to rotate the Celebrations across the country.

In 2019, the celebration was held in Northern Ghana, this celebration was held to mark the independence and also to celebrate the end of a conflict mediated by the leaders of the Country.

6th March 2020 marked the 63rd Birthday (independence) of Ghana held in the Ashanti region and it was celebrated in Grand Style. This years’ celebration was to portray the rich culture by the people of Ghana.

In his speech H.E President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo said;

It was sixty-three (63) years ago, today, that our forefathers’ dream of independence for our nation became a reality. Ghana became an independent nation and gained her freedom from the colonial power, Britain.
The celebrated calypso singer of the time, Lord Kitchener, put it into what became a famous hit.
This day will never be forgotten,
the 6th of March, 1957,
when the Gold Coast successfully
got their independence officially.
Ghana, Ghana is the name,
Ghana, we wish to proclaim.
We will be jolly, merry and gay,

We present to you images of how colorful the event was.

NB: Image sourced from the gallery of images shared by the Vice President of Ghana H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Bawuia.