HANA’S MAHAMA SWORN IN

Mr. John Dramani Mahama was on Monday sworn in as Ghana’s fourth elected President and Commander-in-Chief before a massive crowd reveling in a moment of historical significance.

His key message at the ceremony was –“the best is yet to come.”
He won the last December 7 election, which he was not even expected to run, but for the death of former President John Atta Mills last July.
The event was witnessed by an estimated 50,000 people, including about 15 Heads of Government, in Accra, the country’s capital.
Millions more followed the event through coverage on television and the Internet.
It took off with a national anthem at some minutes past 10am Ghanaian time. The two-hour long ceremony was watched on widescreen televisions installed all over the country through live feeds from the state broadcaster, the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).
The GBC was the only media organisation allowed to provide a live feed of the ceremony to other television and radio stations.
The inauguration took place at the beautifully-decorated Black Star Square.
President Mahama’s vice, Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, also took his oath of office at the square whose arch was draped in Ghana’s colours- red, gold and green.
Cultural troupes entertained the guests, who started trooping to the venue as early as 7am. Armed and police bands also entertained the guests.
When Mahama emerged from the presidential limousine in an all-white flowing robe (agbada) for the inauguration, the energised crowd exploded with cheers. His vice chose the kente.
Led by the Chief Justice, Mrs. Georgina Theodora Wood, the vice-president was the first to take both the oaths of office and allegiance. He mounted the podium at 10.19am.
Mahama took his turn at 10.27am. He first took the oath of allegiance before a cheering crowd, members of the parliament and dignitaries.
A brief interruption followed before he took the oath of office declaring: “Having been elected to the high office of President of the Republic of Ghana do in the name of the Almighty God swear, solemnly affirm that I will be faithful and true to the Republic of Ghana.
“That I will at all times preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana; and that I dedicate myself to the service and well-being of the people of the Republic of Ghana and to do right to all manner of persons.
“I further solemnly swear, solemnly affirm that should I at any time break this Oath of office, I shall submit myself to the laws of the Republic of Ghana and suffer the penalty for it. So help me God.”
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