Ghana swears in Akufo-Addo as president

Nana Akufo-Addo was on Saturday sworn in as Ghana’s president at a ceremony attended by dozens of African leaders, sealing a rare peaceful transfer of power in a region plagued by political crises, Reuters reported .

Akufo-Addo, 72, a former opposition leader, defeated incumbent John Dramani Mahama in elections a month ago.

The major cocoa and gold exporter is half-way through a three-year aid programme with the International Monetary Fund to fix an economy dogged by high public debt and inflation.

Meanwhile, President Buhari, who attended the inauguration, maintained that he was glad to witness a peaceful transition of power in the country.

The president, in a message on his Twitter account, @MBuhari, wished the new Ghanaian president and his predecessor-in-office, John Mahama, the best.

Also in his congratulatory statement, All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader,  Senator Bola Tinubu, congratulated Ghana’s new president and the Vice President, Mahamadu Bawumia, over their inauguration, saying a new dawn has come to Ghana.

He described Akufo-Addo as a seasoned administrator and diplomat from a strong political family, saying with him, Ghana is headed for greater heights.

Tinubu also congratulated Ghana for setting the right democratic example for Africa.

He said in a statement by his Media Office on Saturday: “He has been in government before as Foreign Affairs Minister and comes prepared for the office he has sought for two times unsuccessfully. His election is a testament to perseverance, vision and commitment.

“With transition not only from one leader to another but also from one government to another, from a governing party to an opposition party, that country’s democracy is maturing.

“Indeed, it’s a new dawn for Ghana. President Akufo-Addo must now join our president, Muhammadu Buhari, in the task of taking Africa to the next level.

“I must congratulate Ghanaians for the peaceful election and orderly transition. The conduct of all involved in the election shows that democracy has been firmly established in Ghana. As has been its tradition, Ghana has once again helped to lead Africa in the way it must go. The Black Star truly shines for all of Africa!

“I commend former President John Mahama for his courage and gallantry. He has helped to further stabilise democracy in Ghana. By conceding defeat even before the winner had been called, President Mahama had demonstrated that he is a true democrat and a progressive leader”.