Dramani Mahama Sworn In as Ghana's President

Ghana's Vice President John Dramani Mahama takes over as the new president after the death of president John Atta Mills. Dramani was sworn in as the new head of state in a ceremony broadcast in all state televisions. Immediately after taking oath of office, Dramini ordered flags be flown at half mast for a week in honour of the departed President. In a statement from the Chief of Staff John Henry Martey Newman, the cause of the President's death could not immediately be identified. After being sworn in, Dramani said, "This is the saddest day in our nation's history. Tears have engulfed our nation and we're deeply saddened and distraught. I never imagined that one day I will address our nation in such difficult circumstances. I'm personally devastated. I've lost a father, I've lost a friend, I have lost a mentor and a senior comrade." Dramani termed Mills as a prince of peace who brought a distinctive insight into Ghanaian politics. Few months back, questions had been raised about the President's health but he dismissed it as a rumour. "Does my continued living pose a threat to some people?", Mills told reporters at a January event, this is according to the state-run Ghana News Agency (GNA).
His health condition had not stabilized by late June and he was advised to go for a medical check-up in the United States, reported GNA. Before joining politics, Mills lectured at the University of Ghana and was a visiting Lecturer at Temple University in Pennsylvania and Leiden University in Holland. In 2000 and 2004, Mills ran for the country's top job but lost before clinching the position in 2009 after a run-off following a clear winner in the 2008 December elections. Having served as Vice President from 1997 to 2000, Mills enjoyed political strategies learnt from former presidency. His death came just days after he had declared his intention to run for a re-election in the December polls and days after celebrating his 68th Birthday. It is during these Birthday celebrations that Mills had stated that his Government had focused on developing the Nation's economy especially the information sector."We made a promise to expand our country's infrastructural base in support of our economy take-off. We also decided to invest in the people of our country so as to make them competitive both locally and abroad," said a statement from Mills. A condolences message from the opposition New Patriotic Party read, "We join the nation in mourning this sad loss to Ghana." The opposition also said they had lost one of the few breeds of leaders in the history of the country.