Indep. Parade: Over 3-hr delay results in lots of casualties at Mpraeso

Over 20 school children at the Mpraeso Park in the Kwahu South District of the Eastern Region for the 58th independence anniversary parade had to be stretchered off even before the start of the marchpast after it was delayed for well over three hours.

School children had paraded as early as 7:00am, reports say, only for the programme to start after 10:00am.

Eye witnesses told TV3 on Friday, March 6 that medics were overwhelmed by the high number of casualties.

No deaths were, however, recorded, TV3 gathers.

Over the past years, independence parades have recorded casualties, forcing organizers to reformat the marchpast for the national event, in particular, this year.

President John Dramani Mahama in acknowledging the “smart” and “impressive” organization of this year’s parade at the Black Star Square in his address lamented the number of casualties still recorded.

“This should give us an idea of how tough the duty of our servicemen and women are,” he remarked.

Most of the casualties at the Mpraeso Park have been treated and discharged.