ACCRA (PANA)-- John Agyekum Kufuor, Ghana's new president, has called for collective efforts to revive the ailing economy, reconcile the people and build on the West African nation's still-evolving democracy.

"We have work to do and that starts today. Our greatest enemy is poverty. And the battle against poverty starts with reconciling our people and forging ahead in unity," Mr. Kufuor said Jan. 7, in his maiden speech shortly after he was sworn in as Ghana's fifth President.

The ceremony attracted a milling crowd of mostly party functionaries, draped in the colours of the incoming president's New Patriotic Party - red, blue and white - at Independence Square.

Among foreign dignitaries present were President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal, Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso, Togolese President Gnassingbe Eyadema, South African Vice President, Jacob Zuma and former Nigerian military ruler, General Abdusalami Abubakar.

Mr. Kufuor said Ghana has gone through turbulent times, and past wrongs could not be forgotten but could be forgiven.

President Kufuor paid tribute to foreign donors for past support and asked for continued help to overcome current economic challenges and foreign debt. Ghana spends one-fourth of her revenue annually on debt servicing, he noted.

The new leader pledged hard work and sacrifice by his administration to uproot waste and corruption.

"There will be, under this administration, zero tolerance of corruption," President Kufuor declared, adding that he would personally set the example. 

Mr. Kufuor thanked his supporters for the election victory.

He promised multi-party would thrive in Ghana and invited Ghanaians living outside the country to return home and help rebuild the nation.

"I pledge that it will not be a case of one set of Ghanaians coming back from exile to be replaced by another set of Ghanaians going to exile," he said.

The president paid glowing tribute to Ghanaian women for their "remarkable" contributions to the economy. He announced that his government would establish a Ministry of Women Affairs to harness policies affecting their interests.

President Kufuor condemned the murder of women that has plagued the nation and promised to do his best to ensure that the police give the highest priority to finding the perpetrators.

Though he did not cite any names, Mr. Kufuor paid tribute to "those who led the struggle for a return to constitutional rule in the past 20 years."  

He further pledged his commitment to democratic principles, especially the rule of law and fair justice, irrespective of tribe, religion or political affiliations.

The new president particularly challenged the judiciary to work "to renew and restore the faith of our people in the administration of justice" in order to win investor confidence, saying his government would support every feasible business venture.

"Ghana is open for business," he declared, in an apparent invitation to foreign investors.

He charged Ghanaian farmers to accept the challenges of new work ethics, embrace new methods and constantly update their skills to make Ghana an integral part of the global economy.

Mr. Kufuor made a special plea to the various branches of government to join in nation-building, saying that Ghana could not afford to waste time and energy.

"Our people have been very patient but they will not forgive us if we do not start work immediately," he warned.

Former Vice President John Atta Mills, who lost the presidential race to Mr. Kufuor, and outgoing President Jerry John Rawlings attended the Jan. 7 inaugural ceremony. They did not attend the swearing-in.  

Mr. Rawlings, who ruled Ghana for 20 years, embraced Mr. Kufuor and called for a smooth transition to power.