Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, arrived in Accra, Ghana, on Monday to attend the inauguration of President-elect John Dramani Mahama, scheduled for January 7, 2025.
Tinubu, who departed Lagos earlier in the day, was warmly received at Kotoka International Airport by Julius Debra, Chief of Staff to Ghana’s outgoing President, Nana Akufo-Addo.
The Nigerian leader is attending the event in his role as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, alongside other African leaders, to mark this significant occasion.
John Mahama, Ghana’s President-elect, previously held the office from 2011 to 2017. He returns to power after emerging victorious in the December 2024 elections, succeeding President Nana Akufo-Addo, who has served since 2017.
Accompanying President Tinubu on this diplomatic mission are Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and other senior Nigerian government officials.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, had earlier announced the president’s trip in a statement issued on Sunday.
According to Onanuga:
“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 Ghana’s 12th president from 2011 to 2017, was reelected in December 2024 and will succeed President Nana Akufo-Addo (2017–2025).
“This visit follows an invitation from the President-elect, who met with President Tinubu in December. The two leaders share a longstanding personal relationship, reflecting the strong bilateral ties between Nigeria and Ghana.”
