Accra, Ghana – The 43rd Guard Changing Ceremony took place at the Jubilee House on Monday, April 7, 2025, marking a formal transfer of security duties at the seat of government from the Ghana Navy to the Ghana Air Force.
The ceremonial handover, which occurs quarterly, was conducted with military precision and symbolic elegance, and was witnessed by the President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, H.E. John Dramani Mahama.
It was the first Change of Guard ceremony under his renewed mandate following his re-election in 2024.
Also in attendance were key government officials including the Minister for the Interior Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, Minister for Defence Edward Omane Boamah, National Security leadership, Service Commanders, and students from selected senior high schools who were invited to observe the time-honored tradition.
The Change of Guard ceremony is a longstanding military custom that underscores the discipline, professionalism, and continuity of the Ghana Armed Forces in protecting the Presidency.
The occasion also serves as a public demonstration of the seamless cooperation between the various branches of the military in safeguarding national institutions.
As the Ghana Air Force assumes its new role over the next three months, the ceremony reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ unwavering commitment to duty, national service, and loyalty to the Constitution of Ghana.
CHANGE OF GUARDS CEREMONY
The Changing of the Guard ceremony is simply a symbolic gesture that represents the transfer of responsibility for the security.
The colourful military tradition, involves precision drills, well-choreographed with full military band (usually from one of the Regiments), in support with a variety of popular traditional music.
ORIGIN
The Changing of the Guard ceremony originally took place at the Palace of Whitehall, which was the King or Queen’s official home in London until 1689.
When the Royal household moved to St James’s Palace, the ceremony took place there, and finally in 1837, the ceremony moved to Buckingham Palace after Queen Victoria moved in.
In Ghana, this ceremony is performed quarterly (every 3 months). The Presidential guard change was instituted on Wednesday, 5 May 2013 and is conducted with personnel drawn from different regiments.
Usually, a section of troops from either the Army, Navy, or Air Force, under the command of an officer (Lieutenant/Captain), conducts the Unit’s Guard Mounting.
The Change of Guard ceremony at the Presidency in Ghana, is similar to the Guard Changing ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London – the capital and largest city of both England and the United Kingdom.
The British ruled the Gold Coast, now Ghana, for 136 years, from 1821 to March 6, 1957, when our country gained independence, becoming the first sub-Saharan African nation to do so.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites
) / Ahotoronline.com | Ghana 
