Highlights Of Major Political Events In 2017

The President-elect needs the support of all - Dormaahene

Dormaa-Ahenkro (B/A), Jan. 2, GNA - Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyemang-Badu, the Paramount Chief of Dormaa Traditional Area, this day appealed to all Ghanaians to support Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the President-elect for Ghana's development and progress.

While commending President John Dramani Mahama for magnanimously conceding defeat in the Election 2016, he urged Ghanaians to avoid the politics of insults.

Osagyefo Agyemang-Badu made the appeal when he addressed an annual get-together for the divisional, sub-chiefs and their elders of the Dormaa Traditional Area.

President Mahama conducts Nana Akuffo Addo round Flagstaff House

Accra, Jan 4, GNA - It was a delightful scene to watch; and a plus to Ghana's democracy, when President John Dramani Mahama conducted President-elect Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, round the Flagstaff House, as part of the transition exercise.

The meeting at the Presidency was at the behest of President Mahama, whose objective was to introduce his successor to the various Departments and Offices at the Flagstaff House, the seat of Government, at Kanda.

President Mahama addresses Parliament on State of the Nation

Accra, Jan. 5, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama, Thursday, expressed gratitude to God for the grace to govern, and to the good people of Ghana for the opportunity given him to serve the country in the highest office as President.

He also thanked the Vice President, Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah Arthur, the Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood, and all Members of Parliament for their co-operation and solidarity during his tenure as President, as he delivered his last State of the Nation Address to Parliament.

Thousands throng the inauguration of President Nana Akufo Addo

Accra, Jan. 7, GNA - Thousands of Ghanaians thronged the Black Star Square to witness the inauguration of the President elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo as the fifth President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana.

Dressed mainly in the National colours of red, gold, green and black, as well as the New Patriotic Party's colours of blue, white and red, the celebrants expressed their joy of living to witness this all important occasion.

Nana Akufo Addo sworn in as Ghana's new President

Accra, Jan. 7, GNA - Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo was at 1100 hours on Saturday, January 7, sworn in as the fifth President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana, taking over from the National Democratic Congress' John Dramani Mahama.

'I Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, having been elected to the high office of President of the Republic of Ghana do in the name of the Almighty God, swear that I will be faithful and true to the Republic of Ghana;

'I will at all times preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana; and that I dedicate myself to the service and well-being of the people of the Republic of Ghana and to do right to all manner of persons,' he swore the oath, administered by Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood.

Dr Alhaji Bawumia sworn in as Ghana's new Vice President

Accra, Jan. 07, GNA - Dr Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, was on Saturday, sworn in as the Vice President of Ghana of the Republic of Ghana at 1055hrs, succeeding Dr Paa Kwesi Amissah- Arthur, who served with President John Dramani Mahama.

'I Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia having been elected to the Office of Vice-President of the Republic of Ghana, do in the name of the Almighty God swear that I will be faithful and true to the Republic of Ghana,' pledged

Professor Ocquaye sworn into office as Speaker
Accra, Jan. 07, GNA - Parliament, on Saturday morning, endorsed the election of Professor Aaron Mike Ocquaye, a former Deputy Speaker of Parliament, as Speaker of the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic.

He subscribed to the Oath of Allegiance and Speaker's Oath, administered by Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood.

President Akufo-Addo receives interim transition report on first day at work

Accra, Jan. 9, GNA - President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on his first working day at the Flagstaff House, was presented an interim transition report by the Government's side of the transition team.

The report, covering 24 sectors of the economy, was an Executive Summary of matters that the transition team dealt with in the course of their work.

Former President Mahama in Abuja to discuss Gambia's impasse

Accra, Jan. 9, GNA - Former President John Dramani Mahama on Monday left Accra to Abuja, Nigeria to attend an Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) meeting on the situation in The Gambia.

The Former Ghanaian President, who handed over power to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Saturday, January 7, had been asked to continue his mediation role in the effort to resolve The Gambian political crisis.

ECOWAS mediators to meet Jammeh again
Accra, Jan. 10, GNA - ECOWAS Mediators in the political situation in The Gambia, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and his Co-Mediator, former President John Dramani Mahama, were scheduled to meet and hold another round of talks with President Yahya Jammeh.

Information available to the Ghana News Agency indicated that the decision was announced by Nigeria's Foreign Minister at the end of a day's meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, on Monday.

NPP leader scolds rampaging supporters
Ejisu (Ash), Jan. 11, GNA - A leading member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Kwaku Ntim Twumasi, scolded supporters of the party acting outside the law, describing their conduct as 'completely unjustified and tasteless.'

Ghana, he said, needed to work for everybody and that nobody must be made to feel harassed or persecuted.

President Akufo-Addo rallies prayers of Ghanaians for success

Accra, Jan. 16, GNA - President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Sunday, thanked God for His sustenance for the nation, rallying the prayers of Ghanaians to ensure the success of government to fulfil its promises.

Extolling the virtues of patience and the benefits of waiting confidently on God, President Akufo-Addo referred to the bible, saying: "The Lord is good to those who wait on Him, to the soul who seeks Him, it is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord", as he joined the congregation of the Ridge Church, in a Thanksgiving Service, in Accra.

Morocco's King Mohammed visit to Ghana announced

Accra, Jan. 17, GNA - The Government announced that King Mohammed VI, of the Kingdom of Morocco would begin an official visit to Ghana from Wednesday, January 18.

A statement issued in Accra, on Tuesday, by the Office of the President, and signed by Mr Eugene Arhin, Acting Communications Director, said the visit was aimed at deepening cordial relations between Ghana and Morocco.

Vetting of Ministers to begin on January 20
Accra, Jan.19, GNA — Mr. Yaw Osafo-Maafo; the Senior Minister-nominee, Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister-nominee for National Security, Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister-nominee for Finance, and Dominic Nitiwul, Minister-nominee for Defence were scheduled to on Friday, January 20, appear before the Appointments Committee of Parliament for vetting.

Ghana deploys troops to support ECOWAS mission in Gambia

Accra, Jan. 19, GNA - Ghana deployed troops to support the ECOWAS mission to the Gambia, seeking to enforce the mandate of that county's December 1, 2016 elections, as defiant President Yahya Jammeh refused to cede power after losing at the polls.

A statement issued by the Office of the President in Accra, on Wednesday, said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, had approved and authorised the deployment of a combat team of two 205 troops, backed with the appropriate logistical equipment, to the Islamic Republic of The Gambia as part of the ECOWAS Mission in that country.

ECOWAS; AU must go to the Gambia's rescue - Survey

Accra, Jan. 21, GNA - The tempestuous aftermaths of the elections in The Gambia resulted in uncertainty among some Ghanaians amidst calls on the African Union and ECOWAS to intervene.

The ex-leader, Yahya Jammeh's adamant insistence on holding onto, even after the President-elect, Adama Barrow, had been sworn-in, caused many to doubt the ability of the country to sustain the peace; thus the general call on the leaders of the continental and Sub-regional bodies to help normalise the situation.

Government kick-starts National Identification project

Accra, Jan. 25, GNA - The Government Wednesday started the process of implementing a comprehensive National Identification Project.

This was in furtherance of the New Patriotic Party (NPP's) long-held campaign pledge to build a database of Ghanaians and other nationals resident in Ghana.

At a broad consultative meeting, chaired by the Vice President, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, in Accra, all the major stakeholders underscored the need to have a single national database to aid policy planning and implementation.

President inaugurates Ghana@60 Planning Committee
Accra, Jan. 26, GNA - President Nana Ado Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Thursday, January 26, inaugurated a 30-member Committee to plan for the celebration of Ghana's 60th Independence Anniversary, on March 6.

The Committee, which had just six weeks to plan the event, was chaired by Mr Ken Amankwah, a media and public relations consultant, and a former Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.

President Akufo-Addo swears-in 12 new Ministers
Accra, Jan. 27, GNA- President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Friday, January 27, admonished Ministers of State to provide leadership that would ensure good governance, public accountability, progress of the nation and improved living standards for Ghanaians.

At a ceremony to swear in 12 Ministers of States, the President said: 'The Ghanaian people want honest governance, they want a government that will protect the public purse and ensure value for money in all public transactions…We cannot fail them…we must not fail them.'

AU Commission elects Ghana's Kwesi Quartey Vice Chair

Accra, Jan. 30, GNA - The African Union (AU) Commission, on Monday, January 30, elected Mr Kwesi Quartey, the immediate past Secretary to former President John Dramani Mahama, as the Vice Chairperson of the continental body.

Mr Quartey, with the backing of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was elected to that position at the Ordinary Session of the 28th Assembly of the African Union at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

President urges UN Secretary-General to lead UN reforms

Accra, Jan. 30, GNA - President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, called on the new Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, to champion reforms at the UN that would promote and deepen international cooperation.

President Akufo-Addo said it was important that during Mr Guterres's tenure of office, he ensured the implementation of reforms of the UN Security Council and all other organs of the international body.

President Akufo-Addo urges African Leaders to leave better legacies

Accra, Jan. 31, GNA - President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Tuesday, asked African leaders to leave better legacies than their forebears, saying: 'our generation must be at the measure of Africa's history.'

He said the African Union's (AU) theme for 2017: 'Harnessing the demographic dividend through investments in the Youth is essentially a pact leaders on the Continent have made with both the present and future generations, to leave them a better legacy than we inherited from our forebears'.

NPP grateful to God for Election Victory
Effia (W/R), Jan. 31, GNA - The Acting Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Freddie Blay, said God was on the side of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Ado to make him one of the best presidents that a nation could ever have.

'Some people in this country never believed that Nana Addo could become the President, but God has proven them wrong and I still believe that the battle ahead has been won already by the help of God," he said.