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General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress [NDC], Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah has lauded State Protocol for the 'marvelous' organizational work during Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s swearing in ceremony.

He described the ceremony as the “best” in the history of the country – but noted that some blunders could have been avoided to fully beautify the ceremony.

“Some parts of the ceremony were excellent but some little mistakes nearly marred the program. The planning and organization was exceptional. In all, I will say is the best. The transitional process was also the best,” he said in an interview with NEAT FM’s morning show dubbed Ghana Montie.

The rancorous nature of the handing over process from the administration of the National Democratic Congress to that of the New Patriotic Party in 2001 resulted in the development of deep seated animosity between the two parties up to the present time.

Since January 7, 1993, Ghana can be said to have succeeded in establishing a functional multi-party democracy. It is steadily gaining roots. And this concept that 'governments go and come and that they will continue to change through elections has gained wide acceptance.

In January 1997, Ghana experienced her first political transfer of the reins of government under the Fourth Republican Constitution. That transfer was, however, not remarkable since it was a transfer from the same party, the National Democratic Congress to the National Democratic Congress, and from President J.J. Rawlings to President J.J. Rawlings.

The transfer in 2005 was of a similar nature - from the National Patriotic Party to the National Patriotic Party; from President John Agyekum Kufuor to President John Agyekum Kufuor for the second four-year term of office.

The transfer in January 2001 of the reins of government from the National Democratic Congress administration to the administration of the New Patriotic Party presented the real challenge.

That experience exposed the problems, human and political. That experience was profound and remarkable in many respects. It presented learning and reforms opportunities that transition Bill now seeks to address.  

The transitional period was effectively 1st January to 6th January; rancour and acrimony, rather than co-operation, were what the process produced.

Again in 2000, at the time the Kufour-led administration was transferring power to the late Prof. Atta Mills led government, the two sides did not agree on several of the issues, leading to some disagreements.

It was against this backdrop that the Presidential (Transition) Act was enacted to establish arrangement for the political transfer of administration from an out-going democratically elected president and to provide for related matters.

The law made provision for accountability, institutional clarity and structured time for managing the transition process to avert the challenges experienced in previous transitions.
This is the law that is guiding the present transition that unlike others, appears to have directed the smooth operation of the teams.

However, the transition from President Mahama to NPP’s Nana Akufo-Addo was smooth but experienced little misunderstandings which were solved amicably between the two parties.

The son of late Edward Akufo-Addo was Saturday morning sworn-in as the fifth President of the Fourth Republic at a colourful ceremony at the Independence Square in Accra.

The Chief Justice, Mrs Theodora Wood, administered the Presidential and Vice Presidential oaths to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia respectively.

The oaths, comprising Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance were administered before a large audience which included Presidents Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, Mr Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of Mali, Alasane Ouattara of Cote D’Ivoire, Mahamudu Buhari of Nigeria and Faure Gnassingbe of Togo. Also present were other Heads of State from different countries.