The Republic of Ghana, formerly known as Gold Coast will on Saturday, March 6, mark its 64^th anniversary after gaining its independence from British colonial rule.

This year, it will be devoid of the usual military and school parade due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Again, the annual celebration which is often held at the Independence Square will take place at the Jubilee House per the directives of the Office of the Presidency.

The national event scheduled to last about an hour will see President Akufo-Addo address the nation on the history of our motherland and the hope and vision our forefathers had for Ghana; the Black Star of hope for Africa.

Some state officials expected to grace the event include former Presidents John Dramani Mahama and John Agyekum Kufour, Vice President Dr Bawumia, First and Second Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo and Samira Bawumia among others.

Ghana, formerly known as Gold Coast, gained its independence on March 6, 1957, through the efforts of many great and recognizable leaders such as Kwame Nkrumah, Ebenezer Ako-Adjei, Edward Akuffo-Addo, Joseph Boakye Danquah, Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey, William Ofori Atta, known as the Big Six.

The Ghana flag designed by Theodosia Okoh consists of the colours red, gold and green in horizontal stripes with a black star in the centre of the gold stripe.

While the colour red represents the blood of those who died in the country’s struggle for independence, gold stands for the mineral wealth of the country, green symbolises the country’s rich forests and the black star stands for the lodestar of African freedom.

Ghana became a republic on July 1, 1960, with Dr Kwame Nkrumah as its first president.

The country has seen many Presidents through coup d’états and democratic governance. They include Joseph Arthur Ankrah, Akwasi Afrifa, Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, Jerry John Rawlings, Hilla Limann and John Evans Atta Mills.