Ghana's Mahama sworn in as opposition boycotts

Ghanaian leader John Mahama speaks to supporters during a campaign rally of the ruling National Democratic Congress at Ashaiman, Greater Accra in Ghana on December 3, 2012. Mr Mahama was Monday sworn in as President in a ceremony boycotted by the opposition which is challenging his mandate.

Ghana's John Dramani Mahama was sworn in as president on Monday at a ceremony attended by thousands in the capital but boycotted by the opposition, which has challenged the election results.

Mr Mahama, who initially became head of state following the death of his predecessor John Atta Mills in July, pledged to build on the west African nation's economic success in a speech after taking the oath.

The writer and Afrobeat music fan from the country's north who recently published a well-received memoir pledged to improve the country's infrastructure.

"We as a country have inherited a powerful legacy, and we are beneficiaries of a mighty history," the 54-year-old Mahama, dressed in a flowing white robe, told a crowd of Ghanaians, African heads of state and foreign dignitaries.

He added later that "nevertheless, there's still a tremendous amount of work that needs to be done ... Bridges, schools and hospitals must be built ... We must continue to invest in our agricultural sector and grow our economy."

Observer groups hailed the polls as another successful election in the country viewed as a stable democracy in turbulent West Africa.

The party of main opposition candidate Nana Akufo-Addo has however alleged the vote was stolen and challenged the results in court.

High-stakes
Official results from the December 7 elections showed Mr Mahama with 50.7 per cent of the vote compared to Mr Akufo-Addo's 47.7 per cent.

The stakes were especially high in the polls in the country of some 24 million people, with the newly elected President in charge of a growing stream of oil revenue.

West Africa's second-largest economy and a longtime producer of gold and cocoa, Ghana started pumping oil in 2010 and now produces 105,000 barrels per day.

With oil flowing and Ghana's economy growing at a rate of 14.3 per cent in 2011, how President Mahama invests the country's boom money will be closely watched.

While it is considered a lower middle-income country by the World Bank, Ghana continues to struggle with infrastructure development.

Rural areas are plagued with potholed roads and most people rely on fresh water sold in sachets.

Though high-rise malls and apartments are being constructed across the capital Accra, Isaac Owusu-Mensah, a lecturer at the University of Ghana, said Mr Mahama will be judged on how much he improves lives for Ghanaians in the far-flung reaches of the country.

"The primary issue that will guide everybody in the run-up to the next four years is how the economy is being managed," Mr Owusu-Mensah said. "If they don't utilise (the oil revenue) quite well, there's going to be a big problem."

Court challenge
Besides managing the increasing revenue, President Mahama must also be mindful of the court challenge to his election. Mr Akufo-Addo, who lost to Mills by less than one percentage point in 2008, has yet to concede defeat.

He has filed a challenge with the supreme court alleging an array of voting improprieties and asking he be declared the winner. Hearings are expected to be held soon.

The NPP boycotted the swearing-in, and some members of the party called upon former President John Kufuor, a member of the party, to stay away from the ceremony.

A small crowd of opposition supporters were reported to have gone to his home early Monday in a bid to block him.

Mr Kufuor, widely respected for having stepped down after his two terms of office despite his party narrowly losing 2008 elections, defied such calls and attended the ceremony.

Perry Okudzeto, a spokesman for the opposition party, said on Sunday that "we are challenging the legitimacy of that election and the winner of which is being sworn in tomorrow.

"We don't see why we should be part of the swearing in of an ill-elected president."

The venue for the inauguration was richly symbolic as it commemorates Ghana's status as the first sub-Saharan African nation to gain independence from colonial rule in 1957.

Some 12 African heads of state were said to be in attendance. (AFP)