Ghana's new president takes centre stage

One of Africa's most charismatic politicians, the Ghanaian leader, Jerry Rawlings, has handed over the presidency to his most prominent opponent, John Kufuor.

The former opposition leader was inaugurated at a ceremony in the capital, Accra, which was attended by heads of state from across West Africa.

Since coming to power in a coup nineteen years ago, Jerry Rawlings won two elections in his own right and now leaves a relatively stable country to his successors. In one of his final acts as President, Mr Rawlings called on the armed forces to stay loyal to the incoming administration. A BBC correspondent says the new government, when it's appointed, will face the difficult task of realising the promises it made during the election campaign -- improving social services while also pushing through tough economic reforms.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service