African Elections Project (Accra)
7 January 2009
Professor John Atta Mills has sworn the oath office as the 3rd President of the 4th Republic at a colorful and well attended ceremony in Accra. The ceremony took place at the Independence Square, which was turned into an open air Parliament. The function was attended by thousands of people from all walks of life.
Wearing a rich kente cloth with a jumper underneath, he took the Presidential Oath and the Oath of Allegiance administered by the Chief Justice, Mrs. Justice Georgina Wood. He swore on the Bible.
Vice President John Dramani Mahama, dressed in white flowing agbada, also took the oath of office. He took the oath of the Vice President and the Oath of Allegiance. He also swore on the Bible. They then signed the oaths they swore
During his inaugural speech,the new president of Ghana expressed his sincere appreciation to all persons gathered at the ceremony and acknowledged the presence of the two former heads of state, John Kufour and John Jerry Rawlings.
He said his government will bring about change in a new direction using a consensus driven agenda. He emphasized the fact that he is going to be a president for all Ghanaians irrespective of their political affiliation. Adding his government will hit the ground running.
Several West African Heads of State and dignitaries from several countries also attended the swearing-in.
The top list of invited guests included limited to President Bi Koroma of Sierra Leone, Gunichiro Koizumi, former Prime Minister of Japan, the Chairman of Africa Union Commission, Jian Ping, as well as delegation from Morocco, the US and Canada.
Also present at the ceremony were Heads of State of Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, Nigeria as well as the Prime Minister of Niger and Vice President of Liberia.
The presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2008 elections, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is also present at the Independence square to witness the ceremony.
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Nigeria may be large in size and population and a wealthy nation but she is still a junior brother of Ghana.
First Ghana achieved her political independence in 1953 and Nigeria had to wait till 1960 because the North was not ready. Second Ghana had always led in all spheres of human endeavors from sports to politics. Yes, Ghana suffered a major economic set in the 80's but she learned her lesson and has turned out to be one of Africa's economic power houses.
Today Ghana has done it again to be the first Black African nation to witness a… [Read Full Text]
Nigeria may be large in size and population and a wealthy nation but she is still a junior brother of Ghana.
First Ghana achieved her political independence in 1957 and Nigeria had to wait till 1960 because the North was not ready. Second Ghana had always led in all spheres of human endeavors from sports to politics. Yes, Ghana suffered a major economic set in the 80's but she learned her lesson and has turned out to be one of Africa's economic power houses.
Today Ghana has done it again to be the first Black African nation to witness a… [Read Full Text]
" .. but she learned her lesson .. "
But did not learn the fundamental one well enough.
Did you notice that Mills was swearing on the foreign slave-trader's manifesto called 'bible' - the manifesto of those who raped and tortured and killed their ancestors?
- would he strive to be a good leader without the foreigners? Were there good leaders and thriving kingdoms in the land before the white killers arrived with their propaganda manifesto? Were these ancestral leaders sworn to upholding law and order and mindful of the happiness of their citizens? Does Mills… [Read Full Text]
.."Did you notice that Mills was swearing on the foreign slave-trader's manifesto called 'bible.. It is a catch 22 because in whatever way he was sworn in, be it with the Koran, Bible or the Traditional way someone would still have something to say. So damn he does and damn he doesn’t
Let us bring the issues where they belong and the issue here is about a smooth transition of power ever witnessed in Africa. It was made possible because the party in power was able to supervise its failure without rancor. How did it happen? It was made possible… [Read Full Text]
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Active Discussions: Atta Mills - No Blame Game, Witch-Hunting