Evans Mills Sworn In As President

8th January 2009

 Professor John Evans Atta Mills was on Wednesday sworn in as Ghana's President amidst grandeur and assured the nation that he was neither going to engage in political witch-hunt nor pursue vendetta.

With a Bible in his raised right hand, he pledged among other things to protect and defend the Constitution and to dedicate himself to the well being of all Ghanaians.

Chief Justice Georgina Wood administered the Presidential Oath to him.

Vice President John Dramani Mahama also took the Oath of Office. Immediate past President John Agyekum Kufuor and his predecessor, Jerry John Rawlings, former Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama and Ghana's celebrated Diplomat Busumuru Kofi Annan joined thousands of people from all walks of life who thronged the Independence Square in Accra to witness the occasion.

Also there were five Heads of State from the West African sub-region - ECOWAS Chairman President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, Dr Thomas Yayi Boni of Benin, Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe, President Blaise Campaore of Burkina Faso and Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo as well as other foreign dignitaries.

President Atta Mills, speaking after being sworn into office said his Administration would pursue consensus driven agenda, recognize the contribution of their opponents and urged all to hold hands to get Ghana on its feet.

The elections, he said, were over and what was important was for all to see themselves as one people united by a common destiny. The Government, he said, would therefore heal wounds and strive to ensure the unity and cohesion of the nation. Again, it would be a listening one that would address the concerns of Ghanaians.

He also spoke of his determination to create the right environment for businesses to flourish and declared that they would not allow local businesses to suffer undue disadvantage from cheaper imports. President Atta Mills extended a hand of friendship to the Judiciary, Security Services and the Public Services and asked in return, loyalty.

He also used the occasion to reinforce Ghana's commitment towards fostering good neighbourliness and continued collaboration with the United Nations and other International Institutions.

Ghana, he said, would work to expedite the process towards African Union.

Source: GNA