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�I will stop the torturing of our school children on Independence Day when I become the President of Republic of Ghana�, Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, presidential aspirant of the Progressive People�s Congress has declared. �I will make it a day of joy and celebration of our people and turn it into an opportunity to promote patriotism�, he stated in a goodwill message to Ghanaians to commemorate the celebration of Ghana�s Independence anniversary Tuesday. The presidential aspirant added, �Somehow we have made independence celebration an occasion for our soldiers, police and prison officers, customs and immigration officers and schoolchildren to stand in the hot Ghanaian sun and march past state officials. The rest of us, at best, liik on and enjoy another day away from work�. He indicated that the day had also become one for people whose party was in power to show off, while those in opposition frown as they observe proceedings. He said the day that should unite all Ghanaians had become one for the demonstration of partisanship and that the sense of belonging to one nation with a common destiny has been lost. �We have turned to our schoolchildren and their teachers to march and march and march as if that will pay for the divisive acts of our leaders in power. This must stop. I have the will to stop all of this as President of the Republic. No political party or group of people owns our independence�. According to Dr Nduom, it is a joy to observe how other countries celebrate the architects of their independence. For one day, all citizens in these counties sit together, eat, drink together and enjoy the fact that they are citizens of a country they are proud of, Ghanaians are proud of their country too, if progressive leadership encourages the right attitude and behaviour, he stated. �i will encourage all our people to engage in community-based activities involving everyone, including traditional leaders and those from all walks of life. I will set an example for the nation to follow by hosting events that bring a cross-section of our people including the leadership of all political parties, religious and traditional groups together. He was of the opinion that the celebration of community-level independence eve events would be encouraged and supported, whilst formal and information educational institutions and the media would be encouraged to promote programmes that inform both the young and old about our history, traditions and all the leaders who promoted the liberation of our people. �No one will be left out. Unity and patriotism would be the key. We can do it under a progressive leadership�, he concluded.