Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu touched down Accra, Ghana, on Monday to attend the inauguration of Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, scheduled for January 7, 2025.
Tinubu, who left Lagos earlier in the day, was received at Kotoka International Airport by Julius Debra, Chief of Staff to Ghana’s outgoing President, Nana Akufo-Addo.
The Nigerian president is attending the ceremony in his capacity as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, joining other African leaders to witness the historic event.
John Mahama, who previously served as Ghana’s 12th president from 2011 to 2017, reclaimed the presidency after winning the December 2024 elections. He succeeds President Akufo-Addo, who has served since 2017.
Accompanying Tinubu on this diplomatic visit are the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and other senior government officials.
The Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had on Sunday disclosed that the president will attend the event.
Onanuga stated that President Tinubu’s trip is at the invitation of the Ghana President-elect, Mahama.
The statement reads, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Monday, January 6, for Accra, the capital of the Republic of Ghana, to attend the inauguration of President-elect John Dramani Mahama on January 7.
Mahama, who served as the 12th president of Ghana between 2011 and 2017, was reelected in December 2024. He will succeed President Nana Akuffo-Addo( 2017-2025).
“President Tinubu’s trip to Accra is at the invitation of the president-elect, who had visited the Nigerian leader earlier in December.
Mahama and President Tinubu have a longstanding personal relationship, just like Nigeria and Ghana maintain a longstanding bilateral relationship.
“President Tinubu, as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, will join other African leaders at the ceremony.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and other senior government officials will accompany President Tinubu on the trip.
