VZCZCXRO5481
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN
DE RUEHAR #0593/01 0731737
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 141737Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3982
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE

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, 
 
SIPDIS 
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