Akufo-Addo’s swearing-in has moved from Black Star Square to Parliament

Ghana’s parliament will host President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo’s swearing-in ceremony instead of Black Star Square, the government said.

A deputy government spokesman, Pius Enam Hadzide, said the decision was based on a request from the parliament leadership.

He said all COVID-19 security protocols will be strictly enforced at the new location which will host several dignitaries around the world.

“On November 3, 2020, when President Akufo-Addo commissioned office facilities as part of the Parliament’s physical infrastructure projects at Parliament House in Accra, Parliament gave him a passionate representation that the nation as a whole which they wish to swear in later. that the presidents of the republic are held in parliament and before the parliament by Ghanaian laws and international best practices. “

“The transition team welcomed the request of the Parliament of Ghana made by Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu [Majority Leader] and therefore decided that the swearing-in of President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo on January 7, 2021 will take place in front of the parliament and with the precincts of the parliament ”, declared Mr. Hadzide during a press briefing.

The deputy minister said the transition team was working closely with the parliament leadership to ensure the inauguration was successful.

In November, the majority leader said Parliament had decided to end the practice of swearing in newly elected presidents in Black Star Square instead of Parliament.

The constitution states that a newly elected president must be sworn in before Parliament, however, by convention, all newly elected presidents, except the first term of President John Agyekum Kufour, are sworn in in Independence Square. .

“The House decided that the elected president must follow the rules, subject to security considerations, be sworn in in the presence of Parliament, before Parliament and in Parliament. The parliament of Ghana proposes that the swearing-in of the elected president take place within the current precincts of parliament, as happened during the first inauguration of President Agyekum Kufuor.