The President John Dramani Mahama has stated that economic restoration and stabilisation of the macroeconomic environment will be his first priority.
He explained that his second priority will be the improvement of the business and investment climate to ensure that Ghana is once again open for business while the third and fourth will be governance, constitutional reforms, accountability and the fight against corruption.
Mr Mahama stated these in his acceptance speech after he was sworn-in as President by the Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo at the Black Star Square in Accra.
Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang was also sworn-in as Ghana's first female Vice President.
“The circumstances we find ourselves in are indeed dire. But even so I'll be decisive and swift in my actions. We'll focus our initial efforts on four critical areas.
I have entered into a covenant with you the good people of Ghana in which I have enumerated 26 actions that I'll take within my first 120 days.” the President affirmed.
“There is reason for hope and there's every reason for hope. But we must also have faith because faith empowers us to trust the things that will happen. With faith you believe what you know and that is why we need faith to be able to achieve our resets” President Mahama emphasised.
He stressed that Ghanaians need a reset with the faith they have in the country and leadership. “We need a reset with the faith we have in our institutions. We need a reset with our faith in our dear nation Ghana” Mr Mahama explained.
Different history, friendship
He said today Ghana was making “a different kind of history, one that speaks to our maturity as a democracy, a nation of citizens and franchise with the authority at the polls to determine their political future.”
“Today's exercise between the outgoing president his excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and I feel is a bit like a deja vu. That is because eight years ago to this day on January 7th 2017 we shared this same space and performed the same transitional exercise.” he added.
President Mahama further recalled that at a time he was the outgoing President having served one term and Akufo-Addo was the incoming President having been given a mandate by the people of Ghana to lead the nation, he noted that both he and Akufo-Addo understood on that day that it is the people of Ghana that they were elected to serve.
“Somehow it seems fitting that it is with Nana Akufo-Addo that I twice shared this stage and this unique historical distinction because he and I began our national political careers in Parliament in the same year 1996” Mr Mahama stated.
President Mahama further recalled that Akufo-Addo always greeted him with warmth saying “a firm handshake and a smile and he's perhaps the only person in my life who has persistently chosen to call me Johnny. While we belong to opposing political parties we shared a sense of mutual respect.”
He indicated that in those early days both of them probably could not have imagined that destiny would bring them to the leadership of their respective parties and that they would have to face off three separate times as they each vied for the highest office of the land.
He commended Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for his “sportsmanship in making an early concession” which eased tensions and contributed to the early conclusion of the electoral contest.
First female Vice President
With the inauguration of Ghana's first female vice-president, President Mahama was of the view that the nation has turned a significant page in its history.
“Nana Jane's ascension to the high office is not merely a personal triumph, it symbolises our collective commitment to fostering a nation where gender equality and female representation are cherished and amplified. This is a powerful testament to the power of diverse voices to shape the future, voices that have the courage to soar beyond our traditional confines.” President Mahama pointed out.
Ceremony
The well-attended historic ceremony was witnessed by both current and former heads of state on the African continent, vice presidents and some heads of international organisations.
Delegations from the European Union, the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Germany also witnessed the historic event.
Nigerian President Bola Asiwaju Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu, was the special guest of honour.
Parliamentarians, the clergy including the General Superintendent of Assemblies of God, Ghana Reverend Stephen Yenusom Wengam, the Global Chairman of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, Reverend Dominic Yeo and Executive Presbytery members as well as other pastors of the church, were among dignitaries at the ceremony. Traditional rulers, the National Chief Imam,Shiekh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, and members of the diplomatic corps also graced the occasion.
Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and former President John Agyekum Kufuor, were present at the ceremony.
The event was spiced up with some cultural performances.
The Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo administered the oath of allegiance, Presidential and Vice Presidential oaths.
