This year’s Independence Day Celebration brought to evident the fortitude of the Ghanaian citizenry who are united at building a congealed national agenda to achieving a common purpose. The yearly event is celebrated nationwide in remembrance of our fore-fathers who fought tirelessly to liberate us from the British Colonial rule. This year’s colorful event been put together by the Planning committee, moved the Independence Day Parade from the usual ST. Theresa’s Basilica Park to Ko Community for the celebrations since same was done at National level. The event that was heavily graced by dignitaries’ and relevant key stakeholders brought lasting memories worth mind capturing. Participating schools in the Municipality selected from Kindergarten to the Tertiary level looked sharply dressed for the occasion as well as poised to give and receive salutes from the heads of security and other officials in the dais as they march pass. In line with theme for the celebrations: Our Unity, Our Strength, Our Purpose, the Hon. Municipal Chief Executive addressing the parade said the theme reminds us that we are one people with a common purpose even though we are culturally and religiously diverse. He said he had strong conviction that our forefathers won the battles those days because they saw themselves as one people with a common agenda which was to wrestle power from the colonial master and take charge of the development of the nation and the good people of Ghana. His speech captured few of the many achievements the incumbent government has bagged of which has so far been of an immense benefit to the Ghanaian citizenry. The few cited were the Free SHS, the STEM Project, revamping of the Technical and Vocational Education Training, the introduction of both Basic School coding and the new education curricular at all levels. Narrowing down development to the Municipality, the Hon. MCE in his speech mentioned school projects, CHIPS compounds, roads infrastructure and many others that are completed and yet to be handed over in addition to ones that are on-going and nearing completion. Apart from an award scheme being instituted by the Municipal Assembly to reward the best BECE candidate in the Municipality each year, he again indicated that the Assembly is also planning to institute an electoral area base award scheme across the Municipality. This he said, the aim of the award scheme(s) is to improve the academic performance in the Municipality and spur our children on to take education seriously. His speech ended with an awareness creation on security matters, health care improvement and a call for unity that would translate into realising a more developed Municipality. A cash prize award was presented to the 2021 Best BECE candidate from the ST. Maria Goretti in the person of Mr. Maxwell Sombuor Mwintire who did not only emerge as the best candidate from the Municipality but in the entire Upper West Region. Prior to receiving the award at the 6th March parade in the Municipality, on Friday, the 3rd of March, 2023 he was also honoured with a Presidential Award by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana at the Jubilee House in Accra. Some certificates and cash awards were presented to deserving schools who were adjudged the best in the march pass as well as to all participating schools.