Today, March 6, 2026, Ghana turns 69 and Nigeria is among the first to celebrate with her.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has extended warm congratulations to the Republic of Ghana on the occasion of its 69th Independence Anniversary, reaffirming the deep and longstanding bonds of brotherhood that have defined the relationship between Africa’s two most populous West African nations for decades.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar conveyed the congratulatory message in a statement issued by the Ministry’s spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, addressing his Ghanaian counterpart Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa directly as Ghana marks its independence from British colonial rule on March 6, 1957.
Tuggar described Ghana’s independence as far more than a national milestone framing it as a defining moment in Africa’s liberation movement that lit the path for Nigeria and dozens of other African nations that followed.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria therefore joins the people of Ghana in celebrating this remarkable chapter in African history and in recognising Ghana’s enduring contributions to democratic governance, regional integration and peaceful development on the continent,” he said.
Noting that Ghana’s 69th Independence celebrations are being held under the theme “Building Prosperity, Restoring Hope,” Tuggar commended the resilience, creativity and determination of the Ghanaian people in advancing national development and strengthening democratic institutions.
The foreign minister also used the occasion to reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to deepening bilateral relations with Ghana through expanded economic cooperation, diplomatic engagement and cultural exchanges expressing confidence that the partnership between both nations would continue to grow in service of regional prosperity and African unity.
Ghana’s independence in 1957 under the leadership of Dr Kwame Nkrumah made it the first sub-Saharan African nation to break free from colonial rule, a moment that reverberated across an entire continent still under colonial domination and ignited liberation movements from Lagos to Lusaka. Nkrumah’s declaration that the independence of Ghana was meaningless unless linked to the total liberation of Africa remains one of the most quoted statements in the history of the continent.
This year’s celebrations in Accra are centred at the Jubilee House, the seat of government, where President John Dramani Mahama delivered the keynote address before a parade featuring contingents from the Ghana Armed Forces, the Police Service, the Fire Service, Immigration Service and Prison Service, alongside school children from across the country.
Ghana declared today a public holiday, giving citizens a three day weekend to mark the occasion.
Happy Independence Day, Ghana.
