Ghana swears in new president

Ghana appears to have managed a peaceful succession after the sudden death on Tuesday of President John Evans Atta Mills.

In line with Ghana’s constitution, the vice-president, John Dramani Mahama, a 53-year-old Christian from the mainly Muslim north, took the oath of office before a sombre parliament only hours after the announcement of Mills’s death following a battle with cancer.The smooth transition affirms Ghana’s reputation for political maturity.

Mr Mahama will serve as caretaker president. But he must be selected by an emergency congress of the ruling National Democratic party if he is to run as a candidate in polls scheduled for December.
 In his first speech as head of state he pledged to govern for all Ghanaians. “We are going to maintain the peace, unity and stability that Ghana is noted for,” he said.A week of national mourning has been declared