Claim: A social media user, Albert Nat Hyde, known as Bongo Ideas, posted on X that only three heads of state attended President Akufo-Addo’s inauguration.
Verdict: False. The claim that only three heads of state attended President Akufo-Addo’s inauguration is false, as numerous heads of state, government officials, and international dignitaries attended his 2017 and 2021 inaugurations.
Full Text
Albert Nat Hyde, popularly known as Bongo Ideas, posted a photo of former President John Mahama shortly after his swearing-in on January 7, 2025.
In his post, Bongo Ideas claimed: “He was the first president to have almost all African presidents at his inauguration, including heads of state from the Caribbean and Europe; Akufo-Addo had only three. A new dawn in Africa! Reset!”
The tweet has garnered more than 140,000 views on X, tending to propel the X algorithm to keep spreading it to other users’ feeds, including people who have not even subscribed or followed him.
Meanwhile, reacting to it, X user Ato Wise, with the handle @ato_Nala, wrote: “That’s true. How could he [Mahama] attract so many Heads of State.”
Another user, The Real Kumasi Confidential with the handle @gyenyamenot9ice, wasn’t happy about what he believed to be the misinformation Bongo Ideas was putting out. He wrote, “Nana Addo had 12 presidents attending his inauguration, tho, get ya facts right.”
Lastly, another user who believed Bongo Ideas’ statement that only three people attended the inauguration resorted to defending ex-president Akufo-Addo. He or she wrote: “MR. LAW @LawrenceAmpons9 Common sense should tell you that there was a COVID-19 era.
Verification
Contrary to the claim, DUBAWA’s research can confirm that President Nana Akufo-Addo’s inaugurations in 2017 and 2021 were well attended by international dignitaries, including several heads of state and government officials.
2017 Inauguration
The event, held at the Black Star Square in Accra, saw the attendance of over 15 African leaders, including Muhammadu Buhari (President of Nigeria), Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (President of Liberia), Faure Gnassingbé (President of Togo), Alpha Condé (President of Guinea), Macky Sall (President of Senegal), and Alassane Ouattara (President of Côte d’Ivoire).
Other dignitaries included representatives from the African Union, the European Union, and other international organisations.
2021 Inauguration
The swearing-in ceremony, held at Parliament House in Accra, was also graced by many high-profile figures.
Among them were Cyril Ramaphosa (President of South Africa), Roch Marc Christian Kaboré (President of Burkina Faso), Julius Maada Bio (President of Sierra Leone), George Weah (President of Liberia), Filipe Nyusi (President of Mozambique), and Alpha Condé (President of Guinea).
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo of Nigeria, delegates from the Caribbean and European countries, and envoys from France and the United Kingdom also attended.
Conclusion
The claim that only three heads of state attended President Akufo-Addo’s inauguration is false.
