Mr. John Dramani Mahama has been officially sworn in as Ghana’s president at a grand inauguration ceremony held at the Black Star Square in Accra.

Thousands of Ghanaians, alongside dignitaries and global leaders, gathered to witness the historic event, which marked an important moment in Ghana’s democratic journey.

President Mahama, 65, assumes office after a decisive victory in last year’s presidential election, where he secured 56.6 percent of the vote against the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) candidate, then Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who garnered 41.6 percent. This margin of victory is the largest seen in Ghana’s elections in 24 years, with a voter turnout of 60.9 percent.

Mahama replaces Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, promising to address pressing issues such as economic challenges, corruption, unemployment, and the environmental damage caused by illegal mining, known locally as “galamsey.”

Historic return

Mr. Mahama’s inauguration is particularly significant as it represents a stunning political comeback. After serving as president from 2012 to 2017. Mahama lost the 2020 elections. His return to power has been hailed as a testament to his resilience and the electorate’s demand for change.

The victory also continues Ghana’s tradition of alternating power between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the NPP, with no party winning more than two consecutive terms since the return to multi-party democracy in 1992.

Oaths of Office

Mr. John Mahama and Vice-President-elect Professor Jane Naane Opoku Agyemang were administered the oaths of office by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo with the latter taking her turn first in the ceremony which also doubled as a sitting of the ninth Parliament.

They took the Oath of Allegiance first followed by the Oaths for their respective Offices as President and Vice President.

Inaugural address

In his inaugural speech, President Mahama addressed key national issues, outlining his vision for the future of Ghana.

Looking ahead

The challenges facing Mahama’s administration are significant. During his previous tenure, Ghana grappled with economic difficulties, persistent power cuts, and corruption scandals. Many Ghanaians are hopeful that his return will herald a new era of progress and accountability.

As the nation enters this new chapter under President Mahama’s leadership, all eyes are on his administration to deliver on its promises and restore hope to the Ghanaian people. The coming months will be critical in shaping the legacy of his unprecedented third term.

The Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, has raised the alarm that bandits from the Northwest are fleeing to the southern state.

According to him, the development is due to a continued military onslaught in the Northwestern region which has forced the bandits to flee to Ibadan, the state capital.

He made this assertion at the 2025 annual inter-faith service for workers held in Agodi area of Ibadan, the state capital.

Makinde, however, vowed to smoke out the fleeing bandits and deal with them.

He said: “The year 2024 was challenging, particularly in terms of safety and security.

“We had incidents of fire outbreaks, armed robberies, and kidnappings. However, in 2025, we will redouble our efforts to address these issues.”

“During a security briefing this morning, I learned that some bad elements from the North-West are relocating here due to military heat in their zones. But we will find and deal with them.”

“During my birthday retreat, bandits had camped less than two kilometres from where I was staying.”

“This underscores the seriousness of the situation.”

The governor urged residents and traditional rulers to report any suspicious movements.

“To our traditional rulers, who are custodians of your domains, and to all residents, this is no joke. If you see suspicious movements, report them immediately.”

“For us in Oyo, bandits will have no foothold. I will not sleep until every inch of this state is safe,” Makinde noted.

Nigerian states especially in the Northern region are battling from activities of bandits and terrorists, a situation that has usually led to deaths, kidnappings, destructions and destabilisation of states.

Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (“GTCO Plc” or the “Group”) (NGX: GTCO) is pleased to announce the successful completion of the first tranche of its equity capital raise programme, following the completion of the capital verification exercise conducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the approval of the Basis of Allotment of the Offer by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The Offer, which garnered substantial interest from domestic retail investors, raised a total of ₦209.41 billion from 130,617 valid applications for 4,705,800,290 Ordinary Shares, fully allotted. This milestone concludes the first phase of GTCO’s phased equity capital raise programme, which is structured on a balanced allocation strategy based on an equal split between institutional and retail investors. This balanced approach aligns with GTCO Plc’s commitment to fostering a well-diversified and robust investor base.

Commenting on this phase of the recapitalization exercise, Segun Agbaje, Group Chief Executive Officer of GTCO Plc, expressed his gratitude: “We extend our sincere appreciation to our new and existing shareholders, as well as the regulatory authorities, for their unwavering support during this initial phase of our equity capital raise. The strong participation and successful capital verification exercise and allotment process reaffirm the confidence investors have in our fundamentals and execution capabilities. This sets a solid foundation for accelerating our strategic roadmap, which aims to pivot the Group for transformational growth and unlock greater value across the Group’s Banking and Non-Banking businesses.”

GTCO Plc continues to lead its peers in key profitability metrics and financial performance. Building on this successful first phase, the Group will commence the second phase of its recapitalization plan in 2025, which is strategically positioned to attract significant foreign institutional investments, reinforcing its reputation as a “Truly International” financial services brand.

Proceeds from the combined equity raise will be strategically deployed to recapitalize the Group’s flagship subsidiary, Guaranty Trust Bank Limited (GTBank Nigeria), enhancing its ability to meet regulatory requirements and further solidify its position as a leading financial institution. Additionally, the funds will support Group-wide growth initiatives, including footprint expansion, product enhancement, and innovation across both Banking and Non-Banking subsidiaries. GTCO remains committed to delivering sustainable value to its stakeholders and driving innovation across the financial services landscape in Africa.