John Mahama was officially sworn in as Ghana’s new president during a ceremony at Black Star Square in Accra on Tuesday, a landmark occasion attended by prominent world leaders.
Mahama’s inauguration follows his victory in the December elections, marking his return to the presidency after losing it in 2017. He takes over from Nana Akufo-Ado, who succeeded him seven years ago.
The event also saw Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang being inaugurated as Ghana’s first female vice president, a significant milestone in the country’s political history. The Chief Justice of Ghana, Gertrude Torkornoo, administered the oath of office.
In his speech, the 66-year-old Mahama, dressed in the traditional Ghanaian national attire, addressed the enthusiastic crowd. “Today should mark the opportunity to reset our country,” he declared, as waves of celebration rippled through the crowd, adorned in the green, red, black, and white colors of Mahama’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) party. The atmosphere was electric, with cheering citizens waving flags, chanting, and dancing to the rhythms of drums and the unmistakable sound of vuvuzelas.
Notable attendees included Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senegalese leader Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Burkina Faso’s Ibrahim Traore, Kenyan President William Ruto, Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Gabon’s Brice Oligui Nguema. Also present were Sierra Leone’s Julius Maada Bio, Guinea’s Mamadi Doumbouya, and several former leaders and officials.
Mahama’s victory in December’s election saw him reclaim the presidency after securing 50% of the vote. He triumphed over the then-vice president, Mahamudu Bawumia, of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), by a margin of 1.7 million votes, with Mahama securing 6.3 million votes in total. In a gesture of sportsmanship, Bawumia swiftly conceded defeat, acknowledging the will of the people. “The people of Ghana have spoken, and they have voted for change at this time,” Bawumia said during a press conference.
Mahama later confirmed receiving a congratulatory call from Bawumia via his X account.
Having served as president from 2012 to early 2017, Mahama returns to office after a period of economic difficulties in Ghana. The economy became a central issue during the campaign, particularly after Ghana defaulted on its debt and entered into a $3-billion deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). With inflation reaching a high of 50% in late 2022, although it has since dropped to 23%, Mahama is tasked with reviving the economy.
Ghana, with a population of 33 million, has long enjoyed political stability. The country’s two main political parties, the NPP and NDC, have alternated in power since the return to multi-party democracy in 1992. As Africa’s leading gold exporter and the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, Ghana’s economic recovery is of critical importance to its future.
