Regions mark 51st Anniversary(Daily Graphic, Friday, March 7,2008 Page 34)

...........Benjamin Xornam Glover reports from Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region that pupils and security personnel Pupils and Security Personnel hoping to have their first independence day parade at the Jubilee grounds in Bolgatanga had their hopes dashed as for the second year running the parade was held at the dusty St. Johns Park.

Work on the Jubilee Park, which started a little over a year ago, is yet to be completed. In an interview with a section cross section of marchers, some of the students said they would have wished to take the parade on a well-paved grounds. They appeal to the government to ensure that work on the grounds is completed. “We can not be inhaling dust always”, one student said.

The Upper East Regional Minister who read President John Agyekum Kufuor's address, took the salute at the St. Johns Park where the parade of about 240 members of the security services 1,856 school children from public and private basic schools, second cycle, voluntary and youth organizations was under the command of Assistant superintendent of Police, ASP, Mr. Kweku Bempah.

The Regional Police band under the command of Inspector Kofi Agyeman Badu was the toast of the audience as they treated the gathering to delectable marshal songs as the contingents march past.

Among those present were the Governor of the Central South Province of Burkina Faso, Madam Pauline Hien Winkoun, the Representative of the Governor of the Central East Province of Burkina Faso, Gouba Boudoma, Service Commanders, The Paramount Chief of the Bolgatanga Traditional Area, Naba Martin Abilba III, religious leaders, heads of government agencies and departments.