Ghana Swears in New President, Vice-President

Congratulations Ghana on a peaceful transition of power. You are a great example to other African countries and are to be commended. God bless you.

By Amy R. Connolly, Echo

Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo holds the Sword of Authority as he is sworn in during the official inauguration ceremony in Accra, Ghana, on Jan. 7, 2017. Akufo-Addo was inaugurated as the fifth president of the fourth Republic of Ghana after winning the presidential elections in December 2016. Photo by Christian Thompson/European Pressphoto Agency

ACCRA, Ghana, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Ghana welcomed its new president and vice president Saturday with an elaborate swearing-in ceremony, ushering in a "dawn of a new era."

Heads of state from across Africa gathered in Ghana to witness the inauguration of President Nana Akufo-Addo and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia. Akufo-Addo, 72, led the opposition New Patriotic Party in the December 7 election to defeat incumbent John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress. News organizations in the country lauded the new regime as a "dawn of a new era."

They should also laud Mahama for stepping down gracefully, something that cannot be assumed in Africa.

Akufo-Addo is a former human-rights attorney who has promised free high school education and to revive the economy. On Saturday, he tweeted objectives for his tenure, ensuring public service is "not an avenue for making money" and vowing to "protect the public purse."

"The change we have voted for has to start with each individual. I ask you to be responsible citizens," he tweeted.

If only. I pray you will remain true to these ideals and end illiteracy and corruption in Ghana and lead your continent into peace and prosperity.

Akufo-Addo is the fifth president since the end of military rule in 1992.