President John Dramani Mahama has called on Ghanaians to nurture the spirit of collective development and shun unworthy divisive lamentations.

"Our diversity must be a source of strength and not weakness and should not be a grounds for tearing us apart," President Mahama said in a speech he delivered at the 58th Independence day celebration of Ghana in Accra.

President Mahama, donning a blue and white striped Fugu, expressed worry about recent events contravening the peaceful religious and ethnic atmosphere Ghanaians are enjoying noting the sacrifices and courage that inspired the independence of the country.

President Mahama acknowledged the condemnation his government receives everyday referring to it as a test to prove their worth in developing the nation. He said Ghana is celebrated worldwide and "we must celebrate and enhance our successes while we recognize and minimize our failures".

He called for the rejuvenation of the national psyche from one that fleets from successes to challenges marring the efforts made in achieving sustainable development.

President Mahama pledged to continue to do all in his power to promote political co-existence and called on Ghanaians to bear in mind that history is also being written of his generation.