BBC News Online: World: Africa

Rawlings farewell to military

He said he was leaving office with the same sense of optimism and hope that he had in 1981 when he mounted the second of two military coups that brought him to power.

Mr Rawlings said that under his leadership the people of Ghana had regained their collective dignity.

He said that he was not a fan of multi-party democracy, but he nevertheless took credit for fostering political awareness in the electorate.

Ambassadorial role

The farewell ceremony included a march-past by brass bands and a display involving a parachute in Ghana's national colours.

Mr Rawlings told the troops: "I will always love this noble country, and I will always adore you."

He was also quoted as saying that he had accepted an invitation from UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to be a roving ambassador to promote philanthropy in 2001.

"When this work takes me to other parts of the world, I hope I can point to Ghana as a prime example of the voluntary spirit," he said.

At a ceremony on Sunday opposition leader John Kufuor will be sworn in as president.

He defeated Vice-President John Atta Mills in presidential and parliamentary elections on 28 December.

The elections, which were the third since Mr Rawlings re-introduced multi-party politics in 1992, marked the first peaceful democratic transition of power since Ghana's independence.