Kofi Ampeah Woode
His Excellency (HE) John Dramani Mahama has been sworn in as the President of the Republic of Ghana, and the Commander-In-Chief (C-In-C) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), in an elaborate and real colourful inauguration ceremony at the country’s largest public space – the Black Star Square.
The inaugural rites were performed before 275 Members of the Parliament of Ghana, as the Chief Justice of the State – Her Ladyship Justice of the Supreme Court Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo led the C-In-C through the Presidential and Allegiance Oaths, in Accra, in the presence of a host of citizens, and prominent international guests, on Tuesday 7 January 2025.
She also swore in Ghana’s first female Vice President – Her Excellency (HE) Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyeman.
Nineteen Presidents, Heads of State, and Vice Presidents, with five former Presidents, amidst a throng of leaders of international organizations, gathered at the event to witness the historic swearing-in.
The Guest of Honour for the occasion was the 16th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and C-In-C of the Nigerian Armed Forces – HE Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Adenkule Tinubu.
Here are excerpts of President Mahama’s inaugural speech:
“There are tensions and conflicts that have not previously existed between nations. These tensions and conflicts place pressure on alliances to decide where we will support.
There is a seismic shift happening within the system of global economic dominance whereas the G7 nations, United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan once provided the highest percentage of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Over the last decade, that number has been steadily dropping, however, the combined total of the GDP of the BRICS nations of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), their GDP has been consistently increasing.
Technologies such as artificial intelligence are taking us to new heights, opening up the potential for national, financial, and personal security issues that we are not yet able to imagine. One example is the use of misinformation and algorithm manipulations on social media platforms to sway a particular group’s sentiments towards or away from something.
Now more than ever before, we need to strengthen our ties with our neighbors to ensure that we’re working together to keep our sub-regions safe.
We stand in solidarity and work in alliance with all our neighbors in the sub-region. Recognizing the history of our borders, we also acknowledge that on the other side of our country’s borders are our family members.
With the increase of the climate crisis, and as the waters grow warmer, melting the active ice and permafrost, there’s a greater likelihood for viruses that have been frozen and thawed to the extent for decades, perhaps even centuries, to begin to spread and create another global pandemic.
The changing climate conditions, increased population density in urban areas, and mass international travel are enabling existing viruses to spread and mutate at a faster and faster rate than they did before. This is a serious challenge.
Let us not forget the toll that the past epidemics of viruses like Ebola, COVID, and M-pox have taken on the families and communities, and medical infrastructure in several of our neighboring countries and in the sub-region. Let us also not forget how swiftly and completely the COVID pandemic brought the entire world to a screeching halt.
We will focus our initial efforts on four critical areas: The first is economic restoration and stabilization of the macroeconomic environment. The second is the improvement of the business and investment environment to ensure that Ghana is once again open for business. The third is governance and constitutional reforms. And the final but not the least is accountability and the fight against corruption.
Our vision hinges on the introduction and implementation of a 24-hour economy.
We envisage an innovative and vibrant 24-hour Ghanaian economy, which will also be anchored in agriculture and agribusiness. This innovative approach will unlock potentials that have long remained dormant, enabling us to harness the energy and creativity of all our people.
Just imagine a Ghana where our markets are alive and bustling at all hours of the day, with responsive public services accessible at all times, such that businesses can operate flexibly to meet the diverse demands that they are subjected to, and yet can find opportunities regardless of traditional institutions.
The 24-hour economy model will also bolster job creation for the young people, stimulate local industry, and attract foreign investments, and allow us to build resilient communities and a sustainable future. This vision extends beyond mere economic transactions. It symbolizes empowerment, the empowerment of every Ghanaian to contribute to our national progress.
Your presence as fellow Presidents of sister countries is a testament to the strong bonds of friendship and cooperation that exist between our nations, and I promise you I will work to foster the partnerships that transcend our borders, and I’ll work collectively with you towards regional stability, economic growth, and mutual respect between our nations.”
Here also are excerpts of the speech of the Guest of Honour:
“This moment does not merely symbolize another milestone in the evolution of Ghana’s democratic society. It further demonstrates that in West Africa we are capable of democratic and productive endeavors. It is time that our continent’s critics stop forgetting the strife that Ghana, Nigeria and others have made. We need not prove ourselves to them.
We have nothing to prove to anyone except ourselves. We will lift our nations out of poverty and build strong and resilient economies for our people. Today I am here not only as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but also as an African in resolute support of Ghana and our people.
The sun is out and the sky may be blue, but I see today a black star rising, rising high in the African sky. This black star shines over this nation and its rays spread across this continent with a sense of shared history, hope, compassion, unity, devotion to our common welfare.
While others may seek to demean Africa and keep brothers’ pities against brothers, that shining star reminds us of who we are. Better yet, it reminds us of who we can be. That star reminds us always to strive and walk together, bond together, even when we disagree.
We must choose the path of peaceful dialogue. Never can we do harm to our brothers, nor can we permit any outsider to disrupt our bonds of brotherhood.
Your accession to the past will also mark a new and invigorating momentum in pursuing sub-regional integration and progress. With laser focus, we can tackle our people’s most pressing problems of poverty, youth unemployment, instability, insurgency, and many other problems, hampering our desired progress.”
Dignitaries present at the august event included former Presidents of Ghana HE John Kofi Deawuo Agyekum Kufuor; HE Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo; former Vice President Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia; President of Rwanda – HE Paul Kagame; President of Togo – HE Faure Gnassingbé; President of Benin – HE Patrice Talon; President of Gambia – HE Adama Barrow:
Others were President of Sierra Leone – HE Brigadier Julius Maada Bio; President of the Democratic Republic of Congo – HE Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tsilombo; President of Guinea-Bissau – HE Umaro Sissoco Embaló; President of Cabo Verde – HE Jose Maria Neves; President of Kenya – HE William Samoei Ruto; President of Liberia – HE Joseph Boakai; President of Namibia – HE President Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah;
Others are President of Senegal HE Bassirou Diomaye Faye; President of Chad – HE Mahamat Idriss Deby; President of Botswana – HE Gideon Duma Boko; President of Gabon – HE Brigadier General Brice Oligui Nguema; President of Guinea Conakry – HE Mamady Doumbouya; Head of State of Burkina Faso – HE Captain Ibrahim Traore; Prime Minister of Mali – HE Abdoulaye Maiga; Prime Minister of Niger – HE Ali Lamine Zeine; Prime Minister of Haiti – HE Alix Fils-Aimé;
Others are the Vice President of Equatorial Guinea – HE Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mangue; Vice President of Uganda – HE Jessica Rose Epel Alupo; Vice President of Tanzania – HE Dr Philip Isdor Mpango; Vice President of La Côte d’Ivoire – HE Tiémoko Meyliet Koné; the Vice President of Mauritania – HE Mohamed Adihali Khartra; Speaker of Parliament of the Kingdom of Morocco – HE Rashid Talbi Alami;
Others include former Presidents of Nigeria – HE Olusegun Obasanjo, and HE Goodluck Jonathan; former President of Liberia HE Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; former President of South Africa – HE Jacob Zuma; former President of Germany – HE Christian Wulff; Chairman of the ECOWAS Commission; Foreign Ministers of the European Union, Belgium;
The Chief of the Defence Staff, GAF – General Thomas Oppong-Peprah; Inspector General of Police, Ghana Police Service – Dr George Akuffo-Dampare; Chief of the Army Staff, Ghana Army – Lieutenant General Bismarck Kwasi Onwona; Chief of the Naval Staff, Ghana Navy – Vice Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu; Chief of the Air Staff, Ghana Air Force – Air Marshall Frederick Asare Bekoe; and other Heads of Security Services of Ghana, were all present.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
