Ghana has inaugurated its new government, headed by President John Dramani Mahama. The event was graced by a long list of African leaders and government representatives. Among those present were Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senegal’s Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Burkina Faso’s leader Ibrahim Traore, Kenyan President William Ruto, President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon’s Brice Oligui Nguema.
Presidents Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone and Mamady Doumbouya of Guinea as well as former leaders and officials also attended the inauguration. Mahama was sworn in alongside Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, the first woman to become vice president in Ghana.
The line-up of dignitaries, including the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, and thousands of Ghanaians watched as Mahama took the oath of office as Ghana’s new president.
In his inaugural address Mahama said “As elected President, today we are also making a different kind of history, one that speaks to our maturity as a democracy. A nation of citizens with the authority to determine their political future. Today’s exercise between the outgoing President, Nana Addo, and I feel a bit like déjà vu, as it’s similar to the transitional exercise we performed eight years ago on January 7, 2017.”
“At the time, I was the outgoing President, having served one term, and he was the incoming President, having been given a mandate by the people of Ghana to lead this great nation. He and I both understood then, as I’m sure we do today, that it’s the people of Ghana we were elected to serve.”
The highlight of the event was the arrival of Burkina Faso’s popular military leader, Captain Traoré. Mahama pulled a political masterstroke with his invitation of the leaders of the AES states of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger to his inauguration. Traoré, attended in person, appearing to have been granted concessions, including carrying a side arm and having his own personal armed security, considering the security threats he faces after surviving several coup attempts against his government. It was his first visit to an African state outside the AES since coming to power in 2022, and this is a significant political decision.
Watching Traore break with his usual routine to shake the hands of Mahama rather than his usual fist bump, also removing his beret before greeting Vice President Opoku-Agyemang, was a first and implied respect and a promise of cordial relations between both governments, some commentators say.
Ghana’s acceptance of Traoré’s attendance in full military gear showed respect for his role as military leader and prevented any diplomatic friction, which could be seen as undermining his authority or leadership. Allowing him to carry a side arm required careful coordination with Ghanaian security services to ensure there were no misunderstandings or breaches of local laws. Strict guidelines were implemented to manage and monitor the weapon while maintaining a secure environment for all dignitaries.
Ghanaian security agencies collaborated closely with Traoré’s security detail, integrating them into the broader inauguration security framework to avoid overlaps and confusion. By accommodating Traoré’s specific security and protocol needs, Ghana demonstrated a willingness to navigate complex security dynamics.
Spotting his iconic camouflage with a pistol strapped to his side, Traoré’s presence at the inauguration triggered wild applauds, highlighting his popularity amongst many in the sub-region. The loud cheers and applauds he received at the inauguration, some of the attendees noted, indicated some sort of political endorsement of the AES leaders and may suggest, they say, growing disenchantment with the current political establishments in some ECOWAS member-states. His presence at the ceremony is very instructive given the bruised relationship between Ghana and Burkina Faso after former president, Nana Akufo-Addo’s Wagner forces comment.
Mahama’s decision clearly indicates a contrary approach to that adopted by his predecessor, and may have set the stage for his ascension to the role of a diplomatic go-between for the AES leaders and their ECOWAS counterparts. This invitation signalled the fulfilment of Mahama’s promise that he would be more receptive to stronger ties with his Sahelian counterparts, an important decision, considering Ghana’s strategic location, straddling the Sahel to its North where security concerns places it at the forefront of discussions about the greater geopolitical influence on its national political stage.
Mahama’s party’s center-left political leaning may provide a more receptive platform that would align with the position advocated by the Sahelian military regimes, some political pundits insist, placing Mahama at an advantage in winning back the Sahelian states to ECOWAS. It is also expected that, even if they reject all entreaties to return to the regional body, Ghana intends to maintain strong relations with the trio.
The diplomatic concessions made for Captain Ibrahim Traoré reflect Ghana’s commitment to maintaining strong regional ties while respecting the unique roles and needs of its African counterparts. These measures underscore the importance of flexibility and mutual respect in diplomatic relations. The successful management of these concessions contributed to the smooth and secure conduct of Mahama’s inauguration, reinforcing Ghana’s reputation for diplomacy and unity within the African community.
The writer’s conservative bias is unfortunately too obvious. Traore was the leader here, as acknowledged by the people, not Mahama. His security concerns were correctly acknowledged and allowed as they do with the USofA secret service