The Minister of State in charge of Government Communication, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has announced that this year’s 68th Independence Day celebrations will cost only a tenth of the amount spent last year.

The scaled-down event, set to take place at Jubilee House on March 6, reflects the government’s commitment to fiscal prudence while preserving the significance of the occasion.

Speaking on preparations, Kwakye Ofosu explained that the event has been significantly streamlined to reduce costs.

“In the past, there were 60 contingents made up of 60 men and women each. So we are talking close to 3,600 men and women and thousands of children who march.

“Now, everything has been scaled down to a little over 500 people. That includes both security personnel and schoolchildren who will be performing. This is to ensure that we do not incur the kind of costs we did in the past.

“I can reveal to you that the celebrations to be held here on Thursday will cost a tenth of what it took to host this event in Koforidua last year. That event cost GH₵15 million. What will be held here tomorrow will cost a tenth of that,” he stated.

Kwakye Ofosu further clarified that reducing the scale of the event does not diminish its importance.

“The scaled-down events in no way undermine the significance of the day. The Independence Day celebration is one that President Mahama takes very seriously. He believes it must be celebrated, but in a manner that allows us to make savings that can be redirected into other areas of expenditure,” he stated.

As part of the 2025 World Engineering Day Celebration, the KNUST Technology Consultancy Centre has launched its inaugural Engineering Design Competition.

The competition, themed “Circular Economy Champions: Challenging the Next Generation of West African Subregion Engineers to Turn Waste into Wealth through Design Competition,” aims to challenge engineering student associations in the West African sub-region to transform waste materials into valuable products, promoting innovative thinking and sustainable practices.

Professor Francis Davis, Director-General of TCC-CIMET, highlighted the benefits for participating students.

“By participating, you will gain invaluable experience, receive mentorship from industry leaders, and develop skills that will set you apart in the competitive world of engineering,” he said. “More importantly, your work will contribute to solving pressing challenges such as waste management, pollution, resource scarcity, and climate change, all while shaping the future of a sustainable Africa.”

He also called on industries and interested individuals to support the initiative. “We call on industry leaders, academics, and policymakers to support these young engineers,” he said. “We need the guidance and expertise of experienced professionals to mentor and collaborate with us so that we can make this happen.” He also invited them to join as partners.

Ing. Isaac Bedu, Registrar of the Engineering Council, encouraged students to ensure their solutions meet national and international engineering standards. “As we celebrate innovation, we must ensure our solutions meet national and international engineering standards,” he said. “The Engineering Council exists to uphold the integrity of our profession, ensuring every engineering solution deployed in Ghana is safe, reliable, and built to last.”

Speaking on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority, Mr. Akim Tijani encouraged students to find practical solutions for Africa’s growing waste problem.

The competition is open to all Engineering Students’ Associations across the West African sub-region. To be eligible, students must form groups of 5 to 7 members, with each group including at least one female participant and at least one member from a different interdisciplinary program.

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Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson

The Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, has assured that recommendations from the National Economic Dialogue will be addressed in the 2025 budget, which is set to be presented on March 11, 2025.

According to him, these suggestions align with the government’s economic recovery agenda and will help put Ghana on the path to stability.

Speaking during the plenary session at the dialogue on March 4, 2025, he stated, “Most of the presentations align with the first presentation I made. This clearly shows that we all understand the country’s challenges. What remains is the resolve to come together and fix them.”

He also highlighted that implementation remains a challenge, emphasising that the government needs the buy-in of citizens to effectively execute policies.

“We can only implement policies successfully if we gain the support of the citizens,” he noted.

Dr. Ato Forson urged Ghanaians to actively support the government’s efforts to reset the economy.

“Starting March 11, the government will introduce the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy. Many of the concerns you’ve raised will be reflected in the budget.

“But don’t leave the government to do this alone. We urge you to help educate the public so they understand that the time has come to reset and reform our economy. We must do this together.”

The finance minister reaffirmed his commitment to implementing recommendations from the dialogue.

“The solutions are clear. We know the problems, and we know what needs to be done to fix them. It’s time to start implementing.

“I will wait for the final communique and use it as my guiding document when preparing the budget. I will present these recommendations to Cabinet for adoption and inclusion in the budget,” he concluded.

SSD/MA

2025 budget will address most of the concerns raised – Dr. Ato Forson