Ghana President Mahama sworn in

By VPPS

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka joined several Heads of State and Government to witness the inauguration of Ghana’s newly elected President John Dramani Mahama.

The colorful ceremony held at the country’s Independence square at the capital Accra, was attended by former Ghanaian Presidents John Jerry Rawlings and John Kufuor. Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, Jacob Zuma of  South Africa and the Presidents of Togo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea as well as the Vice Presidents of Sudan, Zambia and Malawi were also present.  

President Mahama first became Head of State last year following the death of President John Evans Atta Mills, who had been nominated candidate of the ruling NDC party by the time he passed on .Mahama was the Vice President then.

Tens of thousands of Ghanaians filled the square, waving miniature national and party flags. A carnival mood filled the air throughout the session.

The President and his running mate Kwesi Bekoe Amissah Arthur were sworn in by the Chief Justice Mrs. Georgina Theodora Woo, who was recently in Kenya, as part of the Judges Vetting Board.

Upon taking the oath of office, President Mahama declared, “The promises I have made I intend to keep. I will not let you down, the time for transformation of Ghana has come”.

Earlier, in the evening, Mr. Musyoka and his delegation met and held discussions with the president-elect at his residence.

Mr. Musyoka briefed the Ghanaian leader on the preparation of the March 4 general elections and assured him that Kenyans were committed to peaceful elections.

“We will have peaceful elections and I am sure the outcome will be respected by all,” he told President Mahama.

President Mahama said Kenya and Ghana enjoy special relations both in trade and commerce as well as in the practice of democracy.

“We all know what happened in 2007/2008 but all that is now behind us. I am sure Kenya will conduct credible, successful and peaceful elections. Ghana will stand with you,” he said.

The Vice President presented President Kibaki’s congratulatory message to President Mahama.

Mr. Musyoka, who is accompanied by Trade Minister Moses Wetangula, said Kenya will learn a lot from Ghana on exploitation and management of oil and other minerals.