An impressive parade of security services and school children in splendid colours inspected by President J.A. Kufuor marked the climax of a year-long celebration of the 50th independence anniversary of Ghana on Tuesday. Ghanaians of all walks of life, including a retinue of traditional rulers dressed in rich Kente, ministers of state and parliamentarians, leaders of opposition parties and the cream of the world’s media, thronged the Independence Square venue of the celebrations to be part of the national celebrations. Also in attendance were dozens of Heads of State and freedom fighters from far and near neighborhoods, including Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and Mugabe of Zimbabwe. Others included the Rev. Jesse Jackson, South Africa's Thabo Mbeki, immediate past UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and the Duke of Kent, Prince Edwards. Such was the huge crowd at the parade grounds that tens of thousands others who simply could not find space at the official ceremonies had to make due with splashes in the cold Gulf of Guinea, lying just at the base of the Square. And their sheer numbers, as they lined the coast from Osu as far as to James Town, draped in the national colours of red, gold green from any imaginable adornments, could easily refill the Independence Square. Waving miniature flags, thousands yet simply breached protocol arrangements as they scaled barricades to lodge themselves on any available space on the bare floors just to be part of the occasion, often against the desires of a helpless security detail. Even the media, particularly cameramen, virtually run over each other as they schemed to get the best of shots from the unfolding events. On display also were military ware, and as the programme neared its crescendo, flag bearing helicopters and military aircraft with goodwill messages flew past the grounds to wild cheers from the crowds. Presidents Kufuor and Olusegun Obasanjo later addressed the parade.