President Mahama Witnesses All-Female Change Of Guard

President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday witnessed an all-female contingent that would provide guard at the Presidency for the next three months. The first time all female guard at the Presidency also marked the Second Anniversary of President Mahama's assumption to power, following the 2012 General Election. The females from the Ghana Army take over from the all-male Ghana Air Force Contingent that had provided guard at the presidency over the last three months. The brief ceremony was also attended by Vice President Kwesi Bekoe Ammisah-Arthur, Georgina Theodora Wood, Chief Justice, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, Speaker of Parliament, Ministers of State, members of the Diplomatic Corps, among representatives of other institutions. The Presidential Change of Guard over at the Flagstaff House is modelled along that of the Buckingham Palace. It was instituted on May 5, 2013, and is normally conducted with 20 each of old and new guards from different Services - Regiments of the Army, Navy and Air Force, Escort Contingent, Corps of Drums and National/Regimental Colours, which are under the command of a Captain in the Army, or the equivalent from the other services. The significance of the event includes ensuring alertness and readiness at all times, ensuring availability and serviceability of all equipment at all times, and assessing the strength of the soldiers for duty, among other things. In the Ghana Armed Forces, the significance of the ceremony includes embracing unity in diversity and installing discipline in personnel. President Mahama arrived at the ceremonial grounds at 1000 hours after which the national anthem was played, before he inspected a Guard of Honour mounted by the outgoing and incoming guards.