Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ACCRA593
2007-03-14 17:37:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Accra
Cable title:  

GHANA CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

Tags:  PGOV PREL GH 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 000593 

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL GH
SUBJECT: GHANA CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 000593

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL GH
SUBJECT: GHANA CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE



1. Summary: On March 6, Ghanaians celebrated 50 years of
independence with a colorful parade and other events attended
by delegations from all over the world. The GOG appreciated
the presence of the U.S. Presidential delegation, headed by
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson,

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which was joined by an 11-person delegation from the
Congressional Black Caucus and by Reverend Jesse Jackson,
Sr., representing the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. Nigerian
President Olusegun Obasanjo was Jubilee guest of honor and
received Ghana's highest national honor. Late planning and
weak coordination produced moments of confusion and
significant protocol lapses. Nonetheless, Ghanaians were
mostly festive, celebratory, and openly patriotic. Many
streets and buildings in Accra and the surrounding region
received a facelift for the occasion in the form of fresh
paint, decorative Ghanaian flags, Ghana's national colors,
and images of Ghana's heroes. Two official holidays, free
concerts, and laser and fireworks displays were the grace
notes for the major commemorative Jubilee symphony that
played out in Accra March 5-6. End summary.


2. The centerpiece of the celebration was a military parade
and parade of school children attended by thousands at
Independence Square on March 6. Heads of state from Cote
d'Ivoire, Liberia, Namibia, Togo, Benin, both Congos, Gabon,
Burkina Faso, Mauritius, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zimbabwe,
Malawi, Mali, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Botswana, Lesotho,
Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria and South Africa attended, along with
other delegations and VIPs. Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development Alphonso Jackson (accompanied by Mrs. Jackson)
headed the U.S. Presidential delegation, which included
Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi
Frazer, U.S. Ambassador Pamela E. Bridgewater, CEO of the
Millennium Challenge Corporation John Danilovich, and
Director of the Peace Corps Ronald Tschetter. Also attending
were an 11-member Congressional delegation headed by
Congressional Black Caucus Chairperson Carolyn Kilpatrick and
a private delegation from the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition led by
Reverend Jesse Jackson. Other VIP visitors included one of
Kwame Nkrumah,s daughters, Stevie Wonder and numerous
private groups and individuals who wanted to help Ghana and

Africa celebrate this important milestone.


3. In his Independence Day speech, President Kufuor paid
tribute to Ghana's major historical figures and advised
against complacency in the future, praising Africa's progress
and urging the youth to contribute positively to the
continent. The guest of honor, Nigeria's President Olusegun
Obasanjo, received Ghana's highest award, the Companion of
the Order of the Star of Ghana, at a State Banquet. Ghanaian
Foreign Minister Nana Akufo-Addo read the citation praising
Obasanjo's contribution to Ghana and Africa. There is now a
street named for Obasanjo in recognition of his friendship
with and support to Ghana, particularly since the ruling NPP
came to power in 2001. In his remarks at the parade and at
the State banquet, Obasanjo lauded Ghana as representing the
"vanguard of African unity," and challenged Ghana to use its
leadership role within the African Union to inspire a
regeneration of that unity.


4. Comment: While most Ghanaians turned out in their
numbers, former President Rawlings did not, ostensibly
because he was angry about the manner that the Kufuor
administration had treated him and his wife. NDC
Presidential hopeful John Atta Mills and others from the
party attended Jubilee events. Some Ghanaians raised
questions about the $20 million cost of the 2 day
celebration, which included the purchase of a fleet of 24
luxury cars for use by VIPs and VVIPs. There has been a
national debate about Kufuor's decision to wear a Western
suit instead of the traditional kente cloth robe at the
parade (he responded that he wanted to project a modern
image; he later donned regal kente attire at Ghana,s State
Banquet and at a State Banquet in London hosted by H.M. Queen
Elizabeth 2 on March 13.)


5. Comment Continued: The parade was executed with
precision, color and pageantry, covered by a huge turnout of
international media. The parade fly pass, by Ghana,s air
force, which included one of Ghana,s newly purchased Chinese
K-8 fighter planes was thrilling and impressive, as the
colors of the flag were sprayed across a clear sky. At other
events, the GOG was overwhelmed by the task of coordinating
and accommodating large numbers of dignitaries along with
Ghanaians who felt entitled to be present, even if they were
not invited. The formal state banquet, for example, at the
newly renovated State House, was marred by lapses in protocol
and security, including confusion over invitations (none of
which bore names of gests) and a chaotic rush to the doors
at the stat of the event. Most Ghanaians today realize thatthey must seize the
opportunity now to turn the prsent

ACCRA 00000593 002 OF 002


challenges into opportunities to maximize the goodwill Ghana
has garnered from around the world. There was genuine
jubilation at this jubilee and much for Ghanaians and other
Africans to be proud of despite the few glitches. Ghana at
50, and events in Accra, were indeed the hottest tickets on
the continent March 5-6. End comment.


BRIDGEWATER