John Dramani Mahama sworn in as Ghana's president

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama took the oath of office on Tuesday after winning the presidential election in December last year.

A large crowd of Ghanaians from all walks of life, along with party supporters, gathered at the Black Star Square in Accra, the country's capital, to witness the grand ceremony. The event was also attended by African heads of state and other foreign dignitaries.

Mahama previously served one term as the country's leader but lost in the 2016 elections. He has taken over from Nana Akufo Addo who has led the country for the last eight years.

Mahama said he will hit the ground running, as he tries to put Ghana on the path to economic recovery.

"I will be decisive and swift in my actions. We will focus our initial efforts on four critical areas. The first is economic restoration and stabilization of the macroeconomic environment. Second is the improvement of the business and investment environment to ensure that Ghana is once again open for business," he said.

Mahama lost the 2016 election after overseeing a government rocked with a series of corruption scandals. But with thousands attending the swearing-in ceremony, many have been prepared to give him a second chance.

"I am really happy to witness this event. I pray that God gives the president strength and wisdom to turn things around because we are really struggling. I also pray that John Mahama has a peaceful reign as president," said a resident.

Mahama has planned to implement 26 key policies to improve Ghana's economy and social development in the next 120 days in office. All eyes will be keenly watching, as he tries to take millions of Ghanaians out of poverty.

In the coming days, he is expected to appoint his ministers, and will be counting on them to help make his pledge to turn Ghana's economy around a reality.

John Dramani Mahama sworn in as Ghana's president

John Dramani Mahama sworn in as Ghana's president

John Dramani Mahama sworn in as Ghana's president

John Dramani Mahama sworn in as Ghana's president

More than 100 representatives of the Chinese-Filipino community and descendants of war veterans gathered at Manila's Chinese Cemetery on Tuesday to pay tribute to overseas Chinese who fought against the Japanese occupation during World War II.

The memorial ceremony was also attended by Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian and other officials of the embassy.

Among the attendees was 96-year-old Mike Lu, or Lu Shuiya, a veteran of the Philippine Chinese Anti-Japanese Guerilla Force, known as Wha-Chi in the Philippines. Every year during the Qingming Festival which falls on April 4 this year, he would visit the cemetery to honor his fallen comrades.

"We will not forget, the people will not forget, the motherland will not forget," said Lu in a speech.

Another veteran, 102-year-old Wang Chenli, also participated in the ceremony.

Alongside Ambassador Huang and other dignitaries, the two elderly fighters laid wreaths and bowed in remembrance at the monument dedicated to the Chinese resistance fighters.

Following Japan's occupation of the Philippines in 1942, overseas Chinese in the country set up resistance groups such as the Philippine-Chinese Anti-Japanese Force and the Philippine-Chinese Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Forces, and latter is also known as Wha-Chi.

Wha-Chi played an impressive role in the fight against Japanese aggressors in over three years of the occupation.

The unit killed, wounded, and captured more than 2,000 enemy troops, at a cost of 77 casualties among its own ranks. After the war, the Chinese-Filipino community erected multiple memorials to commemorate these wartime heroes.

"Many people do not know that the Chinese minority in the Philippines was very fearless and very consistent in resisting Japanese militarism during World War II. We should not forget the war history in order to preserve and uphold peace," said Wilson Lee Flores, a well-known columnist in the Philippines.

Chinese WWII resistance fighters in Philippines commemorated