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For the first time in the history of the Presidency, an all-female contingent is to provide guard at the Flagstaff House for the next three months. The all-female contingent from the Ghana Army took over from the all-male Ghana Air Force contingent that had provided guard at the Presidency over the last three months. The change over ceremony of the presidential guard, the first for the year, took place at the forecourt of the Flagstaff House yesterday. It also coincided with the 2nd anniversary of Mr John Dramani Mahama's presidency. Traditionally devoid of speeches, the brief ceremony was attended by the President, the Vice President, Mr Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur; the Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood; the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho; ministers of state, members of the Diplomatic Corps and a cross section of the society. Guard changing ceremony The changing of the presidential guard at the Flagstaff House is akin to the ceremony at the Buckingham Palace. Instituted on May 5, 2013, it is 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 under the command of a captain in the Ghana Army or the equivalent from the other services. Significance Generally, 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 others. Within the Ghana Armed Forces, the relevance of the ceremony includes embracing unity in diversity and installing discipline in personnel. On the President�s arrival at the ceremonial grounds at 10 a.m., the national anthem was played, after which he inspected a Guard of Honour mounted by the outgoing and incoming guards. This was followed by other activities that typically characterise the occasion.