The Oath of Office: All you need to know about Ghana's swearing-in

After the election of a new president-elect, the Constitution requires for that person to take the Oath of Office.

The oath is an affirmation a person takes before assuming the duties of an office and spans for a period of a four-year term.

It is renewed after elections are held, results declared, certified and gazetted by the Electoral Commission.

Ghana’s Presidents and their Vice are only entitled to serving a four-year term and limited to two terms whether in a successive period or a separated one as demanded by the Constitution.

In the likely event of a death, removal from office, or resignation of a president, the vice president takes the mantle of office for the remainder of the term after being sworn in by the Chief Justice.

The swearing-in of Presidents in the Fourth Republic has often taken place at Ghana’s Independence Square which is also known as the Black Star Square. The exercise is often conducted by the Chief Justice in the presence of citizens and government officials.

But in 2021, the event will take place in a rather different setting which is the Parliament House of Ghana.

Meanwhile, after the oath of office has been taken by the president-elect, whether by the Bible or Quran, some items are handed over to the president.

One of them is a president’s sword laid with gold. It is handed over to the president to signify his ascension to power amid his pledge to protect the constitution as given by the mandate of the people.

The president then ascends to the Presidential Seat following the oath of office taken in the presence of citizens and government officials.

The Presidential Seat which is often displayed during the inauguration ceremony of Ghanaian president's emboldens a long tradition of being specially carved from wood and laid with gold.

But what exactly are the words of oath the president-elect says:

The president-elect and vice must repeat the following:

“I, _______________ having been elected to the high office of President of the Republic of Ghana do (in the name of the Almighty God swear) (solemnly affirm) that I will be faithful and true to the Republic of Ghana; that I will at all times preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana; and that I dedicate myself to the service and well-being of the people of the Republic of Ghana and to do right to all manner of persons.

I further (solemnly swear) (solemnly affirm) that should I at any time break this oath of office; I shall submit myself to the laws of the Republic of Ghana and suffer the penalty for it. (So, help me God)”

Following these, there are loud jeers from a section of the public and government officials present at the ceremony.

A rendition of the national anthem is then played by the Ghana Armed Forces, followed by the national gun salute to officially recognise the President as the Commander in Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces and President of the Republic of Ghana.