ACCRA, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Ghana celebrated its 62nd Independence Day anniversary on Wednesday at the Aliu Mahama stadium in Tamale, the Northern Regional capital, some 618 kilometers north of the national capital, Accra.
Hundreds of people from all walks of life attended the annual national parade. It was the first time ever that the celebration was held outside Accra.
A host of foreign dignitaries that included Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou showed up at the parade to celebrate Ghana's position as the first Sub-Saharan country to attain independence, from British colonial rule, on March 6, 1957.
Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Wednesday urged Ghanaians to admire and explore their country.
Addressing the parade, Akufo-Addo said apart from the joy of discovering the beauty and charms of the country, getting to know Ghana would help dispel the prejudices attached to the unknown.
"Those who have the means to do so should consider it more important to travel around and know Ghana, before they embark on the next vacation to Dubai," he said.
He urged the citizens to firmly believe that, despite challenges and difficulties, Ghana is on course to realizing the vision of a free, fair, democratic, self-reliant, prosperous country.
"Let us remain steadfast and united -- the goal is within reach," Akufo-Addo said.
According to him, Ghana intends to use the "Year of Return, Ghana 2019" to bring together Africans, persons of African descent, and all well-wishers and lovers of freedom to strengthen the commitment to ensuring that blots on the nation's history, such as the trans-Atlantic slave trade and slavery, never reoccur.
"It means that we are expecting many, many visitors to our shores this year, and we must all, be on our best behavior and make them feel welcome," said the Ghanaian leader.
