Ghana and the United Nations on Friday jointly hoisted their respective flags in Accra to herald the 65th Anniversary commemoration of the UN, which falls on Sunday.
Among those present at the colourful ceremony were traditional rulers adorned in their royal regalia, religious leaders in their priestly apparel, Service Commanders of the various security agencies, the Diplomatic Corps, Ministers of State and students from some second cycle institutions.
On parade were two contingents of the Ghana Navy, smartly dressed in their ceremonial white uniforms, backed by a joint Army and Navy Band and scores of military police officers who were mainly in charge of movement of officials.
The tone for the flag raising ceremony was set with the rendition of the Ghanaian patriotic song by Tata Ephraim Amu, "Yen Ara Asase Ne," literally meaning "This is our homeland Ghana".
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, and Ms Ruby Sandhu-Rojon, UN Resident Co-ordinator, hoisted the flags of Ghana and UN respectively with the Ghana national anthem and UN anthem playing in the background.
The UN Secretary-General's speech was read by Ms Sandhu-Rojon whilst Alhaji Mumuni read a message on behalf of Ghana.
Ghana is marking the day on the theme: "Ghana-United Nations Co-operation; Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 for a Better Ghana."
In 1945, representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco to draw up the Charter of the United Nations.
The delegates deliberated on the basis of proposals worked out by the representatives of China, the then Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States at Dumbarton Oaks, United States, in August-October 1944.
The Charter was signed on June 26, 1945, by the representatives of 50 countries. Poland, which was not represented at the Conference, signed it later and became one of the original 51 member states.
The United Nations officially came into existence on October 24, 1945, when the Charter was ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and a majority of other signatories.