Ghana's Mahama Sworn in as President after Disputed Vote

Ghana's John Dramani Mahama was sworn-in as president on Monday at a ceremony attended by thousands in the capital, but boycotted by the opposition, which has challenged the election results.

Mahama, who initially became head of state following the death of his predecessor John Atta Mills in July, swore to uphold the west African nation's constitution at the ceremony in Accra's Black Star Square following last month's elections.

"We as a country have inherited a powerful legacy, and we are beneficiaries of a mighty history," Mahama said in a speech after taking the oath.

Observer groups hailed the polls as another successful election in the country viewed as a stable democracy in turbulent west Africa, but the party of main opposition candidate Nana Akufo-Addo has alleged the vote was stolen and challenged the results in court.

The stakes were especially high in the December 7 polls, with the newly elected president in charge of a growing stream of oil revenue.

West Africa's second-largest economy and a longtime producer of gold and cocoa, Ghana started pumping oil in 2010 and now produces 105,000 barrels per day.

The venue for the inauguration is richly symbolic and commemorates Ghana's status as the first sub-Saharan African nation to gain independence from colonial rule in 1957.

Some 12 African heads of state were said to be in attendance.