Kufour becomes Ghana's new president<\/p>\n
ACCRA (AFP): Ghana's longtime ruler Jerry Rawlings on Sunday
\nhanded over to his elected successor John Kufour in the country's
\nfirst peaceful democratic transfer of power since independence in
\n1957.<\/p>\n
Kufour, draped in traditional Kente cloth, was sworn in
\noutside Parliament House in Accra as Rawlings, wearing a white
\nsmock and his trademark sunglasses, looked on.<\/p>\n
The tall, diffident Kufuor, a 63-year-old lawyer and onetime
\ngovernment minister dubbed the \"gentle giant\", pledged \"to be
\nfaithful and true to the Republic of Ghana\" and to uphold the
\nconstitution.<\/p>\n
\"I dedicate myself to the service and wellbeing of the people
\nof Ghana ... and to do right to all manner of persons,\" Kufuor
\nsaid in the ceremony outside Parliament House in Accra.<\/p>\n
Vice President Aliju Mahama, a Muslim, offered his oath of
\noffice in the name of Allah.<\/p>\n
The event, in a forecourt festooned with the national colors
\nof red, gold and green, was witnessed by Nigerian President
\nOlusegun Obasanjo, his counterparts from Senegal, Burkina Faso
\nand Togo and South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma.<\/p>\n
Obasanjo's predecessor Abdulsalami Abubakar, Nigeria's last
\nmilitary leader who paved the way for the return of democracy in
\ntheir country in 1999, also attended.<\/p>\n
Kufuor, backed by the longtime opposition New Patriotic Party
\n(NPP), defeated Rawlings' designated successor John Atta Mills,
\nthe incumbent vice president, in elections last month.<\/p>\n
Rawlings, wearing a white smock symbolizing peace and
\nneutrality, arrived at Kufuor's inauguration to the beat of a
\npercussion band.<\/p>\n
The charismatic former air force pilot did not speak, but
\nwowed the assembled guests with sign language.<\/p>\n
He made a thumbprint sign signifying a vote for the NPP, then
\nthe corresponding sign for his own National Democratic Congress,
\nbefore crossing his thumbs to signify unity.<\/p>\n
The inauguration followed the swearing in of a new 200-strong
\nparliament, including 100 members of the NPP.<\/p>\n
In a ceremony at Parliament House, broadcast on national
\ntelevision, the politicians draped in Kente cloth swore their
\nallegiance to the republic and constitution before taking the
\noath of office as members of parliament.<\/p>\n
The body earlier unanimously elected Peter Ala Adjetey, a
\nlawyer and former NPP chairman, as speaker.<\/p>\n
Rawlings' NDC saw its comfortable 133-seat share of parliament
\nshrink to 92 in December's historic elections. The NDC was
\naccused of corruption and financial mismanagement leading to the
\ncurrent economic crisis, and some Ghanaians pointed to human
\nrights abuses during Rawlings' rule, especially as military
\nstrongman from 1981 to 1992.<\/p>\n
Despite these associations, Rawlings retained widespread
\npopularity, even cult status, at the grassroots level, and he is
\ncredited with assuring stability as well as significant progress
\nin the country's development.<\/p>\n
Kufuor has pledged to accord Rawlings the respect due to a
\nformer head of state, telling him in their first face-to-face
\nmeeting last week: \"You have passed the test. You manned the ship
\nof state well and have come out honorably.\"<\/p>\n
Rawlings, who seized power in a 1981 coup, legitimized his
\nrule in elections in 1992, and was returned to office in 1996,
\nwhen he narrowly defeated Kufuor.<\/p>\n
Rawlings' NDC saw its comfortable 133-seat share of parliament
\nshrink to 92 in December's historic elections.<\/p>\n
The ceremonies on Sunday marked the first peaceful democratic
\ntransfer of power in Ghana since the west African country won
\nindependence from Britain in 1957.<\/p>\n
The constitution of 1992, which restored multi-party politics
\nin Ghana, limits the presidency to two four-year terms.<\/p>",
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