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Thirty-three contingents comprising 1,245 school children and cadet corps took part in the 53rd independence celebration parade at the Jackson's Park in Koforidua on Saturday. It was under the command of Edmond Aryee Ayekwei from the Koforidua Senior High Technical School Cadet. The contingents included eight cadet corps, 13 Junior High and 12 Senior High Schools with the Ghana Police Band providing music for the slow and quick march. There were gymnastic displays, poetry recitals and 'tae-kwando' performances from pupils of some selected basic schools before the march past. Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Eastern Regional Minister who took the salute, in his anniversary address said the theme for this year's celebration: "Investing in the youth for a better Ghana" should be the preoccupation of parents and teachers to prepare the children of today for leadership positions in future. He said the children and youth of today needed conscious guidance and training to prepare them adequately to take over the mantle of leadership tomorrow. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo announced that in that direction, the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) had received 4,809,004 assorted books for distribution to public schools in the region. The AME Zion Basic school was adjudged the best basic school in the parade, whiles the New Juaben Senior High School emerged the best in the Secondary category. The Koforidua Senior High School cadet was adjudged the best in that category.