Ghana Saves Millions as Mahama Moves Independence Day Celebrations to Jubilee House
President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana saved millions of cedis by hosting the 68th Independence Anniversary celebration at Jubilee House instead of the traditional Independence Square.
Delivering his speech at the ceremony on Thursday, March 6, 2025, President Mahama revealed that the event would have cost GHS 20 million if held at Independence Square.
“This year, we received an estimate of at least 20 million Ghana cedis for holding the event at Independence Square, on the same scale as last year,” he stated.
However, due to Ghana’s current economic crisis, he explained that it would have been “unconscionable” to spend such an amount on a few hours of celebration. As a result, the government decided to relocate the event to Jubilee House to significantly cut costs.
“This decision will save us 95% of the estimated cost of the event,” the President emphasized.
Previous Independence Day Celebrations Cost Millions
President Mahama further revealed that Ghana spent:
- GHS 15 million on last year’s celebration in Koforidua, and
- GHS 13.7 million in Ho, Volta Region, the year before.
The decision to reduce expenditure aligns with the government’s focus on prudent financial management during these challenging economic times.
Independence Day Still Holds Great Significance
Despite the cost-cutting measures, President Mahama assured Ghanaians that the significance of Independence Day remains intact. He emphasized that the occasion serves as a source of inspiration for Sub-Saharan African nations in their struggle for independence and self-determination.
“Nonetheless, this scale-down does not diminish the importance of this occasion in any way. It is the single most important event in our history, as it set us on the path of nationhood,” he stressed.