Black Star Square

Black Star Square, also known as Independence Square, is a public square in Accra, Ghana, bordered by the Accra Sports Stadium and the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park. The square often hosts the annual independence celebrations as well as other national events, and is the site for all civic and military parades and other national gatherings. It was completed in 1961, in time for the state visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Ghana.[1]

History

In 1957, Kwame Nkrumah became the first prime minister and president of Gold Coast, now Ghana, after gaining independence from the British. Kwame Nkrumah commissioned the construction of the square to celebrate the nation's independence. It coincided with the visit of Queen Elizabeth II. Construction ended in 1961, and it was named Black Star Square.[2][3] Kwame Nkrumah was the one who led Ghana, formerly Gold Coast, to gain independence from Britain.[4]

Importance

Black Star Square is a site for Ghana's Independence Day parade, which falls on the 6th of March every year. A particularly notable parade was the Golden Jubilee, which was Ghana's 50th anniversary of independence from British colonial rule. The Golden Jubilee celebration occurred on March 6, 2007, and it was led by President John Kuffour.[5][6] It also hosts all major national public gatherings and national festivals.[7]

Structure

In Independence Square are stands that can seat 30,000 people. The square boasts three monuments that encapsulate the fight for independence and liberation. This includes the Independence Arch, the Liberation Day Monument, and the Black Star Gate, also known as the Black Star Monument.[8] A statue of a soldier facing the Independence Arch symbolizes the Ghanaians who lost their lives fighting for Ghana's independence.

Major events

The state funerals for presidents John Atta Mills[9] and Jerry Rawlings,[10] and for vice-president Aliu Mahama,[11] were held at the square. On March 24, 1998, over 500,000 people gathered at the square to welcome former U.S. President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary Clinton. This was the first visit to Ghana by a U.S. president.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Black Star Square". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  2. ↑ "Ghana Salutes Queen Elizabeth". New York Times. Nov 19, 1961. ProQuest 115275130..
  3. ↑ "Visit Ghana | Independence Square". Visit Ghana. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  4. ↑ "Black Star Square". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  5. ↑ Lentz, Carola (2013-09-16). "Ghana@50. Celebrating the Nation. Debating the Nation". Cahiers d'études africaines. 53 (211): 519–546. doi:10.4000/etudesafricaines.17405. ISSN 0008-0055.
  6. ↑ "Ghana celebrates 50 years that changed Africa". Reuters. 2007-03-06. Retrieved 2019-11-12.
  7. ↑ Black Star Square and Black Star Gate. Ghana-Net.com.
  8. ↑ Unknown (2013-10-15). "TOURING ACCRA: THE BLACK STAR SQUARE". TOURING ACCRA. Retrieved 2019-11-13.
  9. ↑ "Funeral held for Ghana president". 2012-08-10. Retrieved 2019-11-13.
  10. ↑ "Rawlings funeral: Ghanaians bid farewell to ex-president". BBC News. 2021-01-27. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  11. ↑ "Hundreds attend Aliu Mahama's funeral in Accra". www.ghanaweb.com. 2012-11-18. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  12. ↑ Gocking, Roger S. (2005). The History of Ghana. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 1282417908. OCLC 732281154.
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