At least 12 Heads of State and Governments have confirmed they will attend the swearing-in of Ghana’s President-elect, Nana Akufo-Addo and his Vice, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
Head of the Inauguration Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, made this known to the media on Tuesday, January 5, 2021, at a press briefing held at the Information Ministry.
She disclosed that more confirmations are expected as the date draws nearer.
“Other foreign dignitaries have also confirmed their participation.”
She noted that “The Foreign dignitaries attending the Inauguration ceremony will have the appropriate courtesies extended to them in line with standard protocol. Arrangements for possible courtesy calls and bilateral meetings have also been catered for. I should mention in that regard that the relevant information pertaining to the specific protocol/courtesies have been communicated to the respective diplomatic missions here in Accra.”
According to her, a welcome desk will be set up at the Airport to facilitate the smooth participation of the foreign dignitaries.
The swearing-in of President-Elect, Nana Akufo-Addo and his Vice , Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, is scheduled for Thursday, January 7, 2021.
According to her, the swearing-in “is a purely parliamentary activity.”
She revealed that the ceremony will commence at 11:00am prompt.
She stated that guests will be expected to be seated at 9:45am.
The Minister warned against attending the ceremony without an invitation, saying “So if you do not have an invitation, please do not come to the premises.”
Security measures
An elaborate security operations plan, she noted has been developed by the security agencies working in tandem with the Inauguration Committee to ensure that security is maintained before, during and after the ceremony.
“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 which 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.”
By Melvin Tarlue