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Ghana swears in Akufo-Addo as President

By Charles Coffie Gyamfi, (Abeokuta) and Eniola Daniel, Lagos
08 January 2017   |   3:14 am
At exactly 12.05pm yesterday, the presidential candidate of the largest opposition party in Ghana, National Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was sworn in as the country’s 5th elected President...

• Pledges To Deepen Democracy, Protect State’s Purse
At exactly 12.05pm yesterday, the presidential candidate of the largest opposition party in Ghana, National Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was sworn in as the country’s 5th elected President of the 4th Republic, at the Black Star Square, Accra, the country’s capital.

Chief Justice, Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, performed the oath-taking ceremony. Ghana has witnessed six military heads of state since it gained independence from British Colonialists in 1957.

Nana Akufo-Addo’s Vice, Dr. Mohammadu Bawmia, a renowned economist; was also sworn in at the colourful ceremony, which was graced by President Muhammadu Buhari, alongside 13 other heads of government.

Nana Akuffo-Addo, who became President after a third attempt, in his inaugural address assured Ghanaians that he would not let them down, pledging to do everything within his power to meet their expectations.

He said it was regrettable that 60 years of the country’s independence and with all the resources the country could boast of, it had no reason to be referred to as a “third world country or developing country”.

Tasking all his countrymen to be “politically active, criticise and put the administration on its toes,” the new President declared: “We need citizens and not spectators. During my administration, hard work will be done by all and not some of us”.

Hinting that he would not tolerate any corrupt practices from his appointees, Akufo-Addo affirmed that, “public service is not an avenue to make money, but to serve, those who want to make money should go to the private sector. I will protect the state purse by insisting value for money in all transactions.”

The Chairperson of Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) and Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who represented the body at the occasion, commended the Electoral Commission (EC),  former President John Mahama, who handed over the baton to Akufo-Addo and all Ghanaians for deepening the country’s democracy through peaceful transition of power.

She called on the people of Gambia where the sitting President Yahaya Jammeh had lost election, but refused to hand over power to emulate Ghana’s example.

The Liberian President disclosed that she had full confidence that Akufo-Addo had all the qualities to take Ghana to greater heights.

Some of the Presidents at the ceremony were, Gnassigbe Eyadama (Togo), Alassane Ouattara (Cote’de’voire), Republic of Iran, Mauritius, Gabon, Benin Republic, and many other friendly countries which sent representatives.

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