In pictures: Ghana celebrates

Tens of thousands of Ghanaians flocked to Independence Square celebrations in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, to mark the country's 50 years of independence from Britain.

Many people dressed themselves in the national colours of red, gold and green for the festivities...

... some at the event even painted themselves like the Ghanaian flag.

Even those who had to work, like petrol station attendant Eugene Attafuah, wore the country's flag as a sign of solidarity with those celebrating.

The crowds roared when President John Kufuor lit the independence flame.

About 20 heads of state attended the parade, including Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe and Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Ghanaian government says it is spending about $20m (£10.4m) on the jubilee celebrations. Several million dollars have been spent on cars to transport visiting dignitaries.

The partying began after midnight when some revellers gave displays of traditional Ghanaian dancing.

And throughout the night tributes were paid to Kwame Nkrumah, who led the country to independence in 1957 and is immortalised in a statue in the centre of Accra.

A fireworks display shortly after midnight lit up the sky above the capital. Ghana's independence in 1957 encouraged other countries to break with colonial rule.

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