President John Agyekum Kufuor was the guest of honour at the State Reception held on Thursday night as part of the week-long activities commemorating Ghana?s 46th Independence Anniversary.

Vice President Aliu Mahama, the Speaker of Parliaments, Mr. Peter Ala Adjetey and the First Lady Theresa Kufuor, were at the cocktail. Members of the Executive, Legislature, Diplomatic Corps and a cross section of Ghanaians were also in attendance.

They were entertained with music from the Police Band and cultural dances from the African Show-time Dance Ensemble.

Earlier in the day, a parade was mounted by the security services and school children at the Independence Square, at which President Kufuor delivered the anniversary address.

The address highlighted the need for unity and peace to propel the government agenda to move Ghana into a middle-income country within a decade.

President Kufuor stressed that the achievement of peace and unity should transcend the boundaries of Ghana to the entire sub-region to attract the needed investment that would end poverty.

Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo attended the parade and jointly took the salute with President Kufuor.

Similar parades were held in the regional and district capitals