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Dozens of African leaders are expected in Accra, Ghana’s administrative capital on Thursday, as incumbent President Akufo-Addo is sworn into office for a second term.
The 76-year-old former human rights lawyer defeated opposition leader John Dramani Mahama in elections last month.
Mr Mahama is yet to concede defeat as he challenges the election results at the Supreme Court.
At a press briefing ahead of the ceremony, officials said thirteen (13) Heads of State have confirmed their attendance.
They include President Senegal, Macky Sall, President of Liberia George Weah, and Alassane Ouattara of the Ivory Coast.
Head of the Inauguration Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey said on Tuesday, January 5, 2021, that other countries including Nigeria, Gambia, India, and France would be represented by their Foreign Ministers at the ceremony which starts at 11 am on Thursday.
“So far we have several Heads of States and governments who have accepted or who are going to be part of the ceremony,” Madam Botchwey said.
“Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Guinea, Togo, Niger, and the other countries that will be represented, such as the Gambia and Nigeria by the Foreign Ministers.”
“We’ll have the Foreign Minister of India, the Foreign Minister of France, Foreign Minister of Rwanda, Foreign Minister of Gabon, we also have the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Gambia, we have the UK Minister for Africa. We have the US Special Envoy for the Sahel, of course, we have the President of ECOWAS Commission, and we also have the chairperson of the AU Commission. We have representatives of the Conservative Party from the United Kingdom, and we have representatives of the CDU and allied parties from Germany, so far these are the confirmations we have”.
COVID-19 protocols
Madam Botchwey also indicated that in line with Ghana’s COVID-19 protocols, all foreign delegations will be required to provide a negative 72-hour PCR test before they are admitted into the country.
Additionally, all participants in the ceremony will be required to keep their face masks on at all times.
“The Committee has been minded by the COVID-19 protocol of social distancing, which will be adhered to. As part of the protocol guidelines drawn up for the ceremony, visiting delegations will be required to provide a negative 72-hour PCR test before they are admitted into the country.
“In this connection, participants in the ceremony will be required to keep their face masks on at all times. Indeed, the need to strictly observe the COVID-19 protocols informed the number of persons who will be accredited to participate in the ceremony. The Committee understands the huge public interest in the ceremony but increasing the numbers will be simply disregarding the COVID-19 protocols, with its attendant dire consequences for the health and safety of everybody. I will therefore wish to plead with the members of the public to follow the ceremony from the comfort of their homes as it will be broadcast live on all major television and radio stations”.
Source: Daily Mail GH
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