A Deputy Minister of Information, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has asked Founder of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), to render an unqualified apology to all Ghanaian school children for describing their participation in the Independence celebration as ‘torture’.

The PPP Founder is reported to have said in a statement issued to commemorate Ghana’s 55th anniversary that he will stop subjecting school-children to 'torture' on Independence Day should he become President of the Republic of Ghana.

The former Convention Peoples Party flagbearer minced no words in describing the independence anniversary as a 'ritual' incorporating a selected few while the masses looking on.

His statement comes in the wake of the reported death of a 14 year old student of the Ho SDA after a parade rehearsal for the Independence Day march last week.

In the said statement, Dr Nduom berated ruling parties for flaunting their wealth and abusing the anniversary celebration, whilst the minority parties “frown” at the fringes.

“I will set an example for the nation to follow by hosting events that bring a cross-section of our people including leadership of all political parties, religious and traditional groups…I will stop the torturing of our school children on Independence Day when I become the President of the Republic of Ghana. I will make it a day of joy and celebration of our people and turn it into an opportunity to promote patriotism.”

“Somehow we have made independence celebration an occasion for our soldiers, police and prison officers, customs and immigration officers and school children to stand in the hot Ghanaian sun and march past state officials. The rest of us at best look on and enjoy another day away from work. The day has also become one for people whose party is in power to show off while those in opposition frown as they look on. A day that should bring us all together has become one for partisan demonstration. The sense of belonging to one nation with one people having a common destiny has been lost. And we have turned to our school children and their teachers to march and march and march as if that will pay for the divisive acts of our leaders in power. This must stop. I have the will to stop all of this as President of the Republic,” the PPP Founder said.

But some government officials seemed nettled by his remarks.

Deputy Information Minister, Okudzeto Ablakwa, wants the PPP founder to retract his comments. Speaking as a panelist on Radio Gold’s Alhaji and Alhaji programme, he pointed out that school-children really cherish and always look forward to such parades and exempting them from the celebrations will be grossly unfair.

“I think that that statement must be retracted and Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom must apologise to the millions of children in this country who have participated and who hold certificate and who indeed look at that day as their most proud moment…I have heard many commentators reduced the commemoration of Ghana’s independence to only what happens at the Independence Square and I think that kind of position is very ignorant, uninformed and it’s not supported by the facts…,” he said.

According to Ablakwa, if the country is to pay tribute and celebrate its forbearers, it beats his understanding why a leading politician like Dr. Nduom should be advocating for something like this.

“…instead of calling the parade torture, he should rather offer suggestions which will help in preventing students from fainting...,” he added.