Accra, Jan 16, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama has declined to make the trip as anticipated to the inauguration of President-Elect of the US, Barack Obama which comes off next Tuesday, January 20, 2009.
Speaking to the GNA at his office at the Castle, Osu on Friday, the Vice President said he had declined to travel to the US because the new National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government was still in its teething stages and his presence was required to assist President John Atta Mills in setting up the new government as soon as possible.
The Vice President also added that considering the nature of the programme for the inauguration, not much was expected to be achieved by way of bilateral discussion with US counterparts during the visit.
Vice President Mahama announced however, that Ghana would be represented by the head of Mission in Washington and the appropriate congratulatory messages have been dispatched to President-elect Barack Obama and his Vice President-elect Joe Bidden.
The Vice President expressed the hope that the long standing warm relationship between Ghana and the United States would be moved to an even higher level with the inauguration of Barack Obama as the new President of USA. 16 Jan. 09
