By By: Alphanso G. Kalama;
Monrovia, Liberia – President Joseph Boakai has departed Liberia for Ghana to join African leaders and international dignitaries at the inauguration of Ghanaian President-elect John Dramani Mahama. The ceremony is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at Independence Square in Accra.
President Boakai is accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Kartumu Y. Boakai, along with key members of his government, including Representative Richard Koon, Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah, Minister of State without Portfolio Mamaka Bility, Chief of Protocol Antoinette M. Wolo, and Liberia Maritime Commissioner General Neto Z. Lighe.
During President Boakai’s absence, Hon. Sylvester M. Grigsby, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, will oversee Cabinet activities in collaboration with the Vice President while maintaining constant communication with the President until his return on January 7, 2025.
The inauguration ceremony is expected to attract significant international attention, with Ghana’s Ministry of Information confirming the attendance of 21 heads of state, three vice presidents, four ministers, and 24 envoys from across Africa and beyond. President-elect Mahama will be sworn in alongside Vice President-elect Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, who will make history as Ghana’s first female vice president.
Representative Richard Koon, who serves as a prominent and sometimes controversial figure in Liberia’s 55th National Legislature, confirmed his invitation by the Government of Ghana. Speaking ahead of the event, Koon emphasized his intention to advocate for legislative reforms during his visit.
“I will be asking the Ghanaian government for support in reforming our legislature,” Koon stated. When asked about the potential participation of Speaker J. Fonati Koffa in the event, Koon remarked, “I’m not aware of that. If Speaker Koffa is in Ghana, he is there on his own.”
The inauguration marks the beginning of John Mahama’s second term as President of Ghana and is seen as a pivotal moment for the nation.
