Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur Sworn In As VEEP

His Excellency Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur was on Monday evening sworn into office as the fifth Vice President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana by the Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood. This was in accordance with Article 66 (10) of the 1992 Republican Constitution. The swearing in ceremony of Vice-President Amissah-Arthur, who was the immediate past Governor of the Bank of Ghana, follows nearly two hours of vetting by Parliament�s Appointment Committee. Mr Amissah-Arthur was nominated for the position last Tuesday from a list of key contenders by President Dramani John Mahama, who ascended to the presidency following the untimely death of President John Atta Mills on July 24, 2012. Chairman of the Appointments Committee of Parliament (PAC), Hon. Doe Adjaho moved for the motion to be accepted and the Ranking Member of the committee and Minority Leader, Hon Osei-Kyei Mensah Bonsu seconded. By the Standing Orders of the House, Parliament voted to approve the nomination and the Speaker ruled in favour of the Ayes. After the swearing-in, the Vice-President signed the book of authority in the presence of the Chief Justice and was officially ushered to sit in the Vice Presidents Chair. The Speaker Joyce Bamford Addo wished the new Vice President well on his new role. In a short statement, Vice-President Amissah-Arthur thanked President John Mahama for reposing confidence in him. He also thanked members of the clergy for their unflinching support and prayers for him as well as the Members of Parliament for their thorough job and unanimity in carrying out the unprecedented assignment of vetting and swearing-in a non-elected vice-president. More soon...