Queen Elizabeth II rolled the red carpet for President John Agyekum Kufuor at the start of his high profile state visit to the United Kingdom (UK) with a spectacular royal ceremonial welcome to the Buckingham Palace, the symbol of the British Monarchy. The three-day historic visit at the invitation of the Queen is designed to reinforce the strong political and economic ties, which have existed between Ghana and its former colonial rulers over the years. This comes amidst the growing international appreciation of the country’s democratic governance and economic performance. The ceremonies, to officially receive President Kufuor began with the formation of a parade in his honour by the Queen’s Household Regiment backed by 100 horses at exactly 1155 hours, at the royal ceremonial grounds. Then, came the arrival of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, which was greeted with cheers by the large flag-waving Ghanaian residents in the UK, attracted to watch the event. Moments later, President Kufuor’s convoy drove in and when he stepped out of the car, attired in a black suit with white shirt and a blue tie to match, and the wife Theresa by his side, adorned in her beautifully designed traditional wear, the crowd went into a frenzy and kept on cheering. The Ghanaian first family then exchanged greetings with the Queen and her husband as the canons boomed at the background. President Kufuor thereafter, escorted by Prince Philip, inspected the Guard of Honour, while the wife and the Queen exchanged pleasantries. The highest point was when the Ghanaian leader and the British Monarch climbed into the Centuries-old, Gold State Coach, the remarkably ornate Coach, built for King George III, and pulled by Eight horses and led by 100 others, for the carriage procession to the Grand Entrance of the Palace. Prince Philip and Madam Theresa also rode into another Coach. So splendid was the event that a number of Ghanaians in the UK, including the Reverend Dr Gordon Odonkor, the Ghanaian Chaplain for London, Ms Catherine Ampaw of the OBE Television and Ms Thelma Sarpong, a Nurse, said they were proud to be Ghanaians. The Queen by tradition invites two leaders to the UK for a state visit every year. This year, President Kufuor happens to be the first to have received that honour. The Queen conducted President Kufuor and the wife to view a collection of Ghanaian items, and later visited the Westminster Abbey, where he laid a wreath at the grave of the unknown warrior and also toured the British Museum. The President was scheduled to receive courtesy calls by the leader of the British Opposition, leader of the Liberal Democrats and the Commonwealth Secretary General Some of the highlights of his programme would be high level talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and a meeting with African Heads of Mission. Source: From Kwaku Osei Bonsu, GNA Special Correspondent, London