Accra, July 1, GNA- President John Agyekum Kufuor and a number of Heads of State attending the Ninth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU), on Sunday interacted with some senior citizens of Ghana at a State luncheon to mark the country's 47th Republic Day (July 1) status.

The Day, which marks the climax of Ghana's process towards political autonomy from the UK in 1960, has been set aside to hail the senior citizens comprising mainly retired public servants for their contributions towards the development of the country. President Kufuor, who is also the Chairman of the AU, said the assembly of leaders from the Continent brought back memories of Ghana's Independence celebration on March 6, 1957.

He said Africa had made great strides after the struggle for independence and acclaimed the relative peace the Continent was enjoying.

President Kufuor noted that Africans are becoming wiser to appreciate the problems facing the Region, citing the New Partnership for Africa's Development and the Peer Review Mechanism, as efforts to deepen democracy. He lauded the senior citizens for serving the country under trying times.

Mr. Owusu Prempeh, former Director General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation commended the President for recognising the role played by past civil and public servants towards the development of the country.

Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency in an interview expressed appreciation for the smooth running of the luncheon and the AU meeting, stressing: "So far so good." The Defence Minister, Mr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor said his interaction with some of the visiting Heads of State at the reception, revealed that most of them were impressed about the ceremony and had indicated their readiness to initiate similar events in their respective countries. Mr B.A. Opoku, 70, a Senior Citizen asked the youth to sacrifice towards the development of Ghana and shun excessive love for money.