Private legal practitioner and Managing Partner of Gyandoh Asmah & Co, Kofi Asmah, has praised the Government of Ghana for significantly reducing the cost of the country’s 69th Independence Day celebrations, describing the decision as a responsible step during a period of economic adjustment.
Mr Asmah said he was honoured to return to the Presidency to witness the national ceremony held at the forecourt of Jubilee House. Reflecting on the event, he noted that the government deserves commendation for scaling down the celebrations compared to the elaborate and costly formats that characterized previous anniversaries.
According to him, the move demonstrates fiscal restraint at a time when the country is undertaking economic reforms and attempting to stabilize public finances. He observed that national celebrations in previous years often required large public budgets that placed additional pressure on government expenditure.
“The Government needs serious commendation for scaling down the celebrations compared to the more elaborate and expensive formats of previous years. In a season of economic reset, saving millions of cedis and demonstrating fiscal restraint sends the right signal.”
Private legal practitioner and Managing Partner of Gyandoh Asmah & Co, Kofi Asmah
Massive Budget Reduction for 2026 Event
The 2026 Independence Day celebration, like the 2025 celebration, was organized on a significantly reduced budget of about GH₵1.5 million. This represents a major drop from the estimated GH₵20 million that would have been required if the event had been held in its traditional large-scale format at the Black Star Square.
Officials explained that the cost reduction formed part of a broader effort by the administration of President John Dramani Mahama to control public spending during challenging economic conditions.
Hon. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister for Government Communications, indicated that the government intentionally reduced the scale of the national event in order to cut unnecessary expenditure.
He explained that the adjustment represents roughly a 90 to 95 percent reduction in the budget normally associated with Independence Day celebrations. Moving the ceremony from the traditional Black Star Square to the forecourt of Jubilee House helped reduce infrastructure, logistics, and security costs.
Participation was also significantly reduced, with just over 500 personnel involved in the ceremony compared with about 3,600 participants who typically take part in previous national parades.
Suspension of Regional Rotation Policy
Another major cost-saving measure was the suspension of the policy that rotated the Independence Day celebration among regional capitals. In recent years, the government organized national events in different cities across the country, a decision that required additional spending on infrastructure preparation and logistical arrangements.
Historical figures show the scale of expenditure associated with those events. The 2024 celebration held in Koforidua reportedly cost about GH₵15 million, while the 2023 celebration in Ho cost around GH₵13.7 million.
Earlier celebrations have also reached approximately GH₵20 million in public spending. Asmah believes the government’s decision to reduce costs for the 2026 event sends an important message about fiscal discipline.
While commending the scaled down approach for the 69th anniversary, Asmah suggested that Ghana should begin planning for a much larger celebration when the country marks its 70th independence anniversary in 2027.
He argued that the milestone should be celebrated in an elaborate manner that reflects Ghana’s national pride and achievements, but stressed that the financing model should be different from previous years. “Ghana turns seventy in 2027. That birthday party must be planned elaborately but funded differently,” he wrote.
According to him, many countries rely on corporate sponsorship to support major civic celebrations. Such partnerships allow governments to organize large national events without placing the entire financial burden on the state.
Examples From International Celebrations
Mr. Asmah cited examples from several countries where corporations support major public events. In the United States, companies such as Coca-Cola, AT&T, and Bank of America often sponsor large civic celebrations.
Similarly, in the United Kingdom, institutions like HSBC and Barclays support national showcases, while in the United Arab Emirates companies such as Emirates and Etisalat help fund major festivities.
He emphasized that corporate sponsorship does not undermine national pride but rather strengthens the partnership between the private sector and national development efforts. “National pride and corporate participation are not mutually exclusive,” Mr. Asmah stated.
Looking ahead to the country’s 70th anniversary, Asmah suggested that Ghana could mobilize support from some of the country’s leading corporate institutions to finance the celebration.
Among the companies he mentioned were MTN Ghana, GCB Bank, Ecobank Ghana, Samsung, GOIL, Newmont Ghana, Gold Fields Ghana, Tullow Oil Ghana, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, Unilever Ghana and Zoomlion Ghana Limited.
He suggested that partnerships involving such institutions could transform the anniversary into a major national showcase while reducing the financial burden on the state.
Turning Ghana@70 Into a National Opportunity
Beyond the celebrations themselves, Mr. Asmah believes the 70th anniversary could be designed to advance strategic national objectives. He proposed that the event should serve as a tourism accelerator that attracts international visitors and promotes Ghana’s cultural heritage.
He also recommended creating a special diaspora investment window to encourage Ghanaians living abroad to channel resources into national development projects.
In addition, he suggested that the anniversary could host a major trade gathering aligned with the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area to strengthen Ghana’s role as a regional commercial hub.
Mr. Asmah also proposed that the milestone celebration include initiatives that promote youth innovation and entrepreneurship, allowing young people to present new ideas and technologies that can shape the country’s future.
For him, Ghana’s 69th Independence Day celebration offers an important example of fiscal discipline, while the upcoming 70th anniversary presents an opportunity to combine national pride with strategic partnerships that support economic growth and national development.
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