John Attah-Mills was sworn in as Ghana 's fifth democratically elected president on Wednesday at Independence Square, Accra.
Attah-Mills, candidate of the opposition party National Democratic Congress (NDC) of Ghana emerged as president through a two-round election, the Nigeria's News Agency reported Wednesday.
After the initial polls on Dec. 7, 2008, no clear winner emerged between the candidates. The run-off held on Dec. 28, 2008 also failed to produce a clear winner, as the election did not hold in one of the constituencies.
The outcome of the election was finally settled on Jan. 2, 2009when elections were held at Tain, the constituency where elections could not hold due to logistics problems.
Atta-Mills was officially declared winner of the presidential race on Jan. 3, by Kwado Afari-Gyan, Chairman of Ghana's electoral commission.
The 64-year-old Attah-Mills was born on July 24, 1944 at Tarkwain the western region of Ghana and hails from Ekumfi Otuam in the Mfantsiman East constituency of the central region.
He started his education at the famous Achimota Secondary School with an advanced level certificate in 1963.
He later attended the University of Ghana, Legon and bagged a bachelor's degree as well as a professional certificate in law in 1967.
He holds a PhD in law from the Oriental and African Studies Institute (SOAS) in London and a doctorate degree from the Stanford Law School, U.S., where he majored in taxation and economic development.
The former lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Ghana, Legon, spent 25 years in the university as a teacher where he rose to become an associate professor.
Attah-Mills made his big break into Ghanaian politics when he was appointed Vice President to former President Jerry Rawlings from 1992 to 2000.
He had also lost two elections to former President John Kufuor.
Meanwhile, the new president has announced James Bebako-Mensah,former secretary under Rawlings as the Secretary to President.
Hon. Mahama Ayariga, (erstwhile MP for Bawku Central) who was Attah-Mills spokesperson during the campaign, is now the presidential spokesman.
Ghana, a country of about 23.5 million people, has received both local and international commendation for conducting the election in a free and fair atmosphere.
Several West African heads of state, including President Umaru Yar'Adua, and those of Benin, Togo, Sierra Leone and dignitaries from several countries also attended the swearing-in ceremony.
Source:Xinhua
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