President John Dramani Mahama on Friday called for unity and collective efforts by Ghanaians to achieve the socio-economic transformation of the country.

He said: "Time has come for collective push for socio-economic transformation ...and to achieve this, we must show respect to each other with unity."

President Mahama made this call when he addressed the 58th independence Anniversary Parade at the Black Star Square in Accra.

Mrs Lordina Mahama, First Lady, Vice President Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur and his wife Matilda Amissah-Arthur, former President Jerry John Rawlings and spouse Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings and former President John Agyekum Kufuor were among dignitaries present.

Contingents on parade were the Ghana Army, Ghana Navy, Ghana Air Force, Ghana Police Service,Ghana Prisons Service, Ghana Fire Service, Customs Division of the GRA and Ghana Immigration Service.

Senior High Schools in attendance were; Kinbu Senior High Technical School, Accra Technical Training Centre, Kokomlemle, Sacred Heart Technical Institute , James Town, St Margaret Mary Senior High school, Dansoman and Salem Senior High School, Osu.

The Osu Klottey Sub Metro, Ayawaso East Sub-Metro, Okaikoi North Sub Metro, Institute of Islamic Studies Sub Metro, Ablekuma Central Sub Metro and Ayawaso West Wuogon Sub Metro were the the basic schools that marched at the parade.

This year's celebration was spiced up with musketry display by groups from Winneba in the Central Region and the displays by all female Police Motorbike riders at the square.

President Mahama said founders of the country had done a lot for the upliftment of Ghana and the failure of current crop of leaders in keeping that flame burning would be an injustice to those who fought for independence and other freedoms.

"Let us not be the generation that will dim the lights of the past and make it difficult for coming generations," he said.

He said coming together to build the nation was akin to writing history and entreated all stakeholders in nation building to play their roles responsibly for generations to enjoy their toil.

On political, ethnic and religious disagreements, President Mahama called on all politicians not to sacrifice the country on ethnic, political or religious platform but to initiate moves that would enhance national integration, growth and development.

"We don't need to sacrifice Ghana on ethnic, social or political bigotry... and belonging to different political or religious background should not be a barrier to our unity or peaceful co-existence," he said

President Mahama pledged to ensure that such divisive tendencies did not override the development agenda of the country in the coming days.

He said the development of Ghana was hinged on good governance, rule of law and democracy and his administration would continue to adhere to those tenets to achieve the development goals of the country.

On religious tolerance, President Mahama said Ghana had had peaceful co-existence of all faiths, which his administration would build on for more useful examples to be set for other countries in the world.