New Ghana president sworn in following the countries closest election ever

John Atta-Mills was sworn in as the new president of Ghana on Wednesday following a peaceful but tense election that secured the country's status as one of the continent's few stable democracies.

Atta-Mills, 64, replaces outgoing president, John Kufour who is led the country for two four-year terms.

The new president was sworn in by Chief Justice Georgina Woode at a ceremony attended by tens of thousands of people including several African heads of state as well as a representative of former colonial power Britain.

Atta-Mills, the opposition candidate, won the runoff election with 50.23 percent of the vote. It was the closest election in the West African country's history.

This election was the third time Atta Mills has run for president.