President John Evans Atta Mills on Tuesday commended Ms Noelle Yaa Boateng, a Teacher at the Ayalolo "1" Junior High School in Accra, for her excellent command of the 54th Independence Anniversary parade held in Accra last Sunday. Ms Boateng, an Assistant Director of Education Grade II, in her thirties is on record to have been the first female commander of Ghana's independence parade. "Congratulations on your excellent performance. I was very much impressed with your performance. It shows the best qualities in our women. Our women have what it takes to march the nation," President Mills said on Tuesday, when Ms Boateng called on him at Osu Castle in Accra. The invitation was at the instance of the President to register his appreciation of the performance of the commander at last Sunday's national assignment. "It is fitting and proper to invite you and commend you for your highly impressive performance. Congratulations on your excellent performance," President Mills said, after Commodore Steve Obimpeh of the 54th Independence Anniversary Planning Committee had introduced the parade commander who was also the Second In-charge of last year's parade. The President commended other teachers for taking part in the celebrations despite threats from some of their colleagues to boycott the parade in protest against errors in migrating them on to the Single Spine Salary Structure and gave the assurance that the errors were being corrected. President Mills extended commendations to the school children for their smart turn out and for taking instructions from the Commander, and further expressed appreciation to the organizers and spectators. Ms Boateng, who was accompanied by his brother Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, thanked the President and his office for the opportunity and the delivery of his speech that drove home the need for discipline and hardwork among the youth to realise the Better Ghana Agenda. President Mills presented a copy of the Diary of the Office of the President and a cash gift to Ms Boateng. Meanwhile, President Mills has commended Ghanaian women for their roles in nation building, describing them as the backbone of society on the occasion of the International Women's Day, which falls today. He said they played very valuable roles in the social, economic and other aspects of life and commended them for their hardwork. President Mills wished the women - wives, mothers and sisters - many happy returns on the occasion of International Women's Day. Source: GNA