June 4 Celebrations Slated for Tamale

A grand durbar has been scheduled for Tamale to climax activities marking the 31st anniversary of the June 4 Uprising.

A statement issued by the planning committee of this year¹s event disclosed that the programme of activities would commence on Wednesday, June 2 with the Youth For Leadership (YFL) Congress. The YFL will officially be inaugurated the following day.

This year¹s celebration which is under the theme: ŒOur Youth, Our Future¹ is to address the issue of Ghanaian youth who seem to be losing the June 4 fervour because of the distortion of history led by neo-colonial minded Ghanaians and self-seekers. It recounted the manner youth from all walks of life including university students, workers and even the unemployed joined members of the armed forces and security agencies in 1979 to uproot a corrupt dictatorship that had abused its political powers.

³Corruption which had so degenerated into hoarding of essential commodities in order to create artificial shortages with its attendant price hikes were all brought to an end by a patriotic sense of belonging in the nation. ³Our youth are calling for a sense of direction. Our youth need direction to be productive and also recognised in the developmental processes of our country. We cannot afford to have a youth who are not given true leadership and direction by those who are swept into power through the vigilance and fortitude of the youth.²

The statement called on all true patriots to make it a point to travel to Tamale to participate in the events marking the 31st anniversary of the Uprising and help restore the principles of justice, probity and accountability.

Former President, Flt Lt. Jerry John Rawlings and former First Lady and President of the 31st December Women¹s Movement Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings are among leading speakers at a grand durbar on Friday June 4.

Other activities planned include free medical screening for inhabitants of Tamale and its surrounding areas at identifiable markets in the metropolis on June 3. At 7.30 in the evening a documentary on June 4 will be shown on large mounted screens at four different locations in Tamale.

On the morning of June 4 there will be the traditional early morning wreath laying ceremony and lighting of the perpetual flame in memory of the fallen heroes and cadres of the June 4 revolt at the Revolution Square opposite the Golden Jubilee House. This will be preceded by a route march from Kawukudi Junction through the 37 Military Hospital intersections to the Revolution Square commencing at 6am.

The grand durbar on June 4 is slated for the Tamale Police Park at 3.10pm. A float through the principal streets of Tamale would precede the durbar.