Ghana's new President John Dramani Mahama promises stability

Accra, 25 Jul – (ANA) - Ghana's new President John Dramani Mahama has pledged to uphold stability following the death of his predecessor John Atta Mills.

Mr Mahama, 53, was sworn in several hours after the 68-year-old president died at a hospital in the capital, Accra. The opposition has praised the swift transition to Mr Mahama, saying it showed Ghana was a mature democracy. Mr Atta Mills, who suffered from throat cancer, had governed since 2009. He had planned to run for a second term in elections in December. Taking the oath at an emergency parliamentary session, Mr Mahama said he would govern for all Ghanaians. "I wish Ghanaians to be assured that all is well," Mr Mahama said. "We are going to maintain the peace, unity and stability that Ghana is noted for." Mr Mahama has declared a week of national mourning. Opposition New Patriotic Party (NNP) presidential candidate Nana Akufo-Addo has suspended campaigning out of respect for Mr Atta Mills, correspondents say. "Ghana actually has handled itself very well. We have never been through this before," he said. (ANA)

FA/ANA/25 July 2012-------------