Abuja, Dec 10 (Nigeria First ) --President Olusegun Obasanjo and a host of other African and world leaders on 7 January 2005 attended the inauguration of President John Agyekum Kufuor of Ghana for a second four-year term.

The impressive ceremony took place in Ghana's capital city, Accra.

Kufuor, while proposing the toast at a celebratory State Banquet, called on all Ghanaians to support "Chapter Two" of his Government's "march towards the political and socioeconomic transformation of our country."

He also expressed optimism that Ghana would continue to grow in peace, stability, freedom and prosperity.

Responding to the toast, Obasanjo, who is also Chairman of the African Union (AU), applauded Ghanaians for massively supporting their Government, which, he noted, had proven to be diligent and dynamic.

He also commended the tremendous improvement in governance and democratic rule on the African continent.

This, he pointed out, is evident in the peaceful conduct of elections in the following countries within the last year: Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger and Algeria.

Acknowledging improvements in economic growth and good neighbourliness among West African nations, Obasanjo called for further integration through:

? The diplomatic and political arena

? A common currency and common market

? Cooperation within the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) project.

Other leaders present at the inauguration were:

? President Mathew Kerekou of Benin Republic

? President Abdullahi Wade of Senegal

? President Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo

? President Jude Bryant of Liberia

? President Amadou Toumani Toure of Mali

? President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea

? Prime Minister Paramanga Ernest Yonly of Burkina Faso

? Vice President Jacob Zuma of South Africa.

There were also delegates from Cote d'Ivoire, Libya and Gambia among other nations.

Kufuor was re-elected for a second term following his victory at the 7 December 2004 polls in which he defeated three other presidential aspirants.