President John Agyekum Kufuor, while addressing the most historic event of his seven years stewardship, on Tuesday paid homage to people whose sweat and toil gave Ghana political independence from British colonial rule. "Today, I pay homage to the first President of Ghana, Dr Kwame Nkrumah and his colleagues from the United Gold Coast Convention who in 1947 launched the last phase of the process towards independence." Addressing thousands of people who thronged the Independence Square to mark 50 years of Ghana's independence, he paid tribute to J.B. Danquah, Paa Grant, Edward Akuffo-Addo, William Ofori-Atta and Ako Adjei, who initiated the process of political emancipation. Digging down into history, he listed giants of the Danquah-Busia and Nkrumaist traditions, which had shaped the political history of Ghana. "But above all, let us give thanks and praise for the many Ghanaians throughout the years who have worked anonymously and often without reward to make our nation what it is today."