President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana says that the decision to scale down the 2025 Independence Day celebrations saved the country GH₵19 million.
In a nationwide address on Thursday, March 6, 2025, to mark the 68th Independence Day celebrations, President Mahama stated that hosting a full-scale event at Independence Square would have cost at least GH₵20 million.
According to President Mahama the scaled-down version of the celebration held at the forecourt of the Jubilee House cost only a fraction of that amount.
“The state spent GH₵15 million on last year’s celebration in Cape Coast and GH₵13.7 million the previous year in Ho. This year, estimates indicated that a full-scale event at the Black Star Square would have cost GH₵20 million,” he said.
“In a year when we are calling on all to sacrifice including workers who have accepted a base pay adjustment far below inflation, it is unconscionable to spend that amount on a few hours of celebration,” the report by Daily Graphic quoted President Mahama as saying.
The President described the decision as part of broader efforts to demonstrate fiscal responsibility amid Ghana’s ongoing economic crisis.
GIK/APA