John Dramani Mahama has taken the oath of office to become the fourth President under Ghana?s fourth republican constitution.By 10:30am Monday morning he had been administered by the Chief Justice of Ghana, Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, to take the oath of Office followed by an oath of allegiance.
He went on the sign the book of allegiance and then sat on the Presidential seat.
President Mahama pledged his commitment to the development of the nation and the wellbeing of the Ghanaian citizenry.
?The promises that I have made are the promises I intend to keep,? he said.
In his inaugural speech the new president focused on attaining national unity while respecting the impact of the actions of an individual.
Recognising the contributions of individuals, heroes in Ghanaian history, to the development of the country; he urged that ordinary citizen should be encouraged to do extra ordinary things for their nation.
?Complacency and frustration can entice us into believing that we are insignificant players stack somehow in the background of a bigger picture. Or that as individuals we are in capable of making a difference but history itself has proven that nothing could be farther from the truth.?
??each and every one of us has a role to play in the development of our beloved mother Ghana. In our hands, yours as well as mine, rests the success or failure of Ghana?s future.
Ghana has built a strong economy, grown in commerce, attained enviable feats in politics and championed peace on the continent but, the president said, there is more left to done.
Unemployment levels are still high, there is a massive infrastructural deficit, access to quality health care is topical and prior to the elections the direction to take in improving access to secondary education was highly debated.
?Over the course of the last four years, a tremendous amount of work has been done. Nevertheless, there is a tremendous amount of work that still needs to be done. More jobs must be created, more roads must be built; bridges, schools and hospitals must be built.?
Absent at the Black Star square were members of the largest opposition group in parliament. The New Patriotic Party boycotted the event on grounds it will undermine their contest of the declaration of John Mahama as winner of the 7 and 8 December elections.
Regardless, the reports by independent observers that the elections were free and fair, the NPP say it has evidence that the elections were rigged to their disadvantage.
The Supreme Court is in a weeks-time expected to sit on a petition by the NPP asking the election results be nullified.
Former President, John Agyekum Kufour was, however, present at the event after failed efforts by NPP supporters, who mobbed his residence, to stop him.
Also present were the President of Benin and Chairman of the AU, Yayi Boni; Nigerian?s President, Jonathan Goodluck; President of Cote D’Ivoire, Alhassan Ouattara; President Helen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia and other high profile delegations.
Former President Jerry John Rawlings and Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings were among the dignitaries present.
