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A contingent of Ghanaian soldiers is taking part in the colourful investiture of President Alassane Ouattara as head of state of Ivory Coast in the country�s capital of Yamoussoukro. The Ghanaian soldiers, drawn from the 66 Artillery Regiment, will fire the traditional 21-gun salute as part of the programme, a significant activity in the catalogue of items regarding the investiture. The Armed Forces Central Band will also join their Ivorian counterparts in a band display, according to a release from the Armed Forces Public Relations Directorate. The participation is at the invitation of the Ivorian government, a gesture the Ghana Armed Forces regards as contributory to the building of good relations with sister Armed Forces. The Ghana Armed Forces have consistently participated in the independence celebrations of a number of African countries, among them Benin, Burkina Faso and Togo. Ghana is also a contributor to the UN military mission in Ivory Coast, especially at the hotel where the then embattled Alassane Ouattara was holed up, following the refusal of Laurent Gbagbo to hand over power, after an election in which the former was declared winner. The programme is scheduled to take place today at 10.30am and the guest list includes a number of African leaders such as President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, Ali Bongo of Gabon, alongside UN Secretary General Ban ki Moon and the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy. Last November�s elections in Ivory Coast, in which Alassane Ouattara was internationally acknowledge the victor, was followed by a bloody strife in which hundreds of people lost their lives and many others displaced. Following a two-week assault by pro-Ouattara forces in a swift action, most of the country fell and eventually, in a rather difficult operation, the capital, especially the presidential palace, was taken on April 11. Laurent Gbagbo, the man who refused to cede power, was captured and is now under house arrest with his wife, in a northern Ivorian location. Political observers think this is a rare opportunity for President Mills to build the broken bridge between him and his Ivorian counterpart when it became clear earlier that he sided with Laurent Gbagbo. Alassane Ouattara had earlier sent his Prime Minister to come and formally invite President Mills for today�s activity. By A.R. Gomda