Akufo-Addo sworn-in as President of Ghana

Photo credit: Reuters

The winner of Ghana's 2016 presidential elections Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was sworn-in as the President of the Republic of Ghana earlier today, January 7 at the Black Star Square, Accra. Also sworn-in as Vice-President was Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

The inaugural ceremony marked the end of transition of government and the beginning of the Akufo-Addo administration. In attendance were several African Heads of State including; President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, Alassane Ouattara of Cote D'Ivoire and Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria. Also in attendance were the three former presidents of Ghana; H.E. Jerry John Rawlings, H.E. John Agyekum Kufuor and the outgoing president H.E John Dramani Mahama coupled with other great dignitaries.

The ceremony was presided by Ghana's new Speaker of Parliament Prof. Mike Aaron Oquaye, whom by law converted the Black Star Square into parliament before the swearing-in was overseen by the Chief Justice Her Ladyship Georgina Woods.

It was an ambiance of joy and a display of peaceful democracy as the outgoing  president and the two other former presidents congratulated H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo and his vice.

President Akufo-Addo in his inaugural speech, called for responsible citizenship and promised to elevate Ghana and eliminate it from the list of third world countries.

President Akufo-Addo is the fifth president of the Fourth Republic of Ghana which has been in existence since 1992. He served as Attorney-General and Minister of Foreign Affairs under the Kufuor Administration. President Akufo-Addo is related to three members of the Big Six (the founding fathers of Ghana) and the son of the ceremonial President of Ghana in the Second Republic Edward Akufo-Addo(a member of the Big Six).