Independence Day celebration is now a party jamboree, I won’t be a part of it – Mahama

Former President Mahama says he boycotted the national event in the Volta region because the ceremony has been politicised.

According to him, not only has the celebration become a “party jamboree” but there was also no need to fund this year’s celebration in the face of current economic hardship.

Mr Mahama who was speaking at the 5th Anniversary Dinner and Awards Night of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Professional Forum (ProForum) on Sunday, March 5, in Accra disclosed that he will boycott the celebration.

He added that the celebration coming off in the Volta Region this year has lost its value.

“I have stopped going to the Independence Day because it has become a party jamboree. When I went to Tamale, they told GBC to take the camera off me. They bused their supporters in and filled the whole stadium.”

According to the former president, the first time the celebration was taken out of the capital city to the Northern regional capital of Tamale in 2019, he was marginalised.

“When I entered the stadium, the place was quiet, and they gave me a corner I went to sit, and they occupied the dais. Then I decided I don’t want to be part of this party jamboree.”

He said, “Independence Day is a solemn national celebration, and we should celebrate it at Independence Square so that anybody who wants to come could come. But today, they bus their supporters in with party flags and T-shirts.

“Nkrumah got us independence and I am an ‘Nkrumahist’ so, I will attend Independence Day, any day if it is not hijacked by one party because it is supposed to be a national day for all of us.

“So, I am not going to be in Ho tomorrow because I don’t want to be part of an NPP jamboree,” Mr Mahama stated.

Former president John Mahama questioned the need for celebrating 66 years of Independence when Ghana is currently experiencing a vaccine shortage for the immunisation of newborns.

He has, therefore, underscored the need for the government to as a matter of urgency, procure all unavailable vaccines for the immunisation of children, to forestall a potential resuscitation of childhood diseases in the near future.