Ghana's 58th Independence Day celebrations have started with a national parade of schoolchildren  and contingents of security personnel at the Black Star Square in Accra.

Parades are also being held simultaneously across all the regional and district capitals across the country.

President John Mahama took the national salute and delievered a speech of solidarity to Ghanaians.

In the regional and districts, representatives of the President will take the national salute and read the President’s speech.

This year’s celebration is on the theme, “Achieving Transformation through National Unity”.

Ambassadors and dignitaries from across the world are at the Black Star Square to support the event.

Former Presidents Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum Kufour, Chief Justice Georgina Wood, Speaker of Parliament Doe Adjaho and other key figures from Ghana are also present

New Patriotic Party (NPP) leader, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, his running mate, Dr Mahamoud Bawumia and other top party officials are also there to support the national event.