ACCRA, Ghana — John Dramani Mahama took office Monday as Ghana's next president with regional and world leaders in attendance following his narrow win in elections last month. The opposition is disputing the result.
Mahama, the former vice-president who took the helm in July following the unexpected death of President John Atta Mills, was elected with an absolute majority of 50.7 percent in the December poll.
His main challenger, Nana Akufo-Addo, won 47.7 percent, according to the country's electoral body.
Mahama has promised to build more schools and hospitals and improve the country's failing healthcare system. The New Patriotic Party still claims Akufo-Addo won the election and has brought a case to the nation's Supreme Court.
Ghana has held five peaceful multiparty elections in a row.
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