John Mahama declared President-Elect in Ghana’s General Elections
The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has declared John Dramani Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, as the winner of the 2024 presidential election. Jean Mensa, Chairperson of the EC and returning officer for the presidential election, announced the results on Sunday, December 8, following a closely monitored electoral process.
Mahama secured a decisive victory with 6,328,397 votes, representing 56.55% of the total valid votes. His main opponent, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), garnered 4,657,304 votes, representing 41.61%. The vote difference of 1,671,093 firmly established Mahama as the president-elect.
Results from Outstanding Constituencies
Jean Mensa explained that the declaration was based on results from 267 constituencies, as results from nine constituencies, accounting for over 947,000 votes, were yet to be received. However, she assured that even if all the votes from these constituencies were added to Dr. Bawumia’s tally, it would not alter the outcome.
The election recorded 11,191,422 valid votes out of 11,430,531 total votes cast, with 239,109 ballots rejected. Voter turnout was reported at 60.9%, based on the current results from 267 constituencies.
Parliamentary Election Outcome
In addition to the presidential election, Ghanaians also voted to elect Members of Parliament (MPs). While some parliamentary seats remain undecided due to disputes, the NDC has secured a majority in parliament.
Election-Related Violence and Arrests
Despite a largely peaceful start to the voting process on December 7, instances of violence were reported during the collation of results. The Ghana Police Service confirmed that three lives were lost, and several others sustained injuries in post-election disturbances. A total of 89 individuals have been arrested for various election-related offences.
Calls for Calm
The National Communications Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi, urged party supporters to maintain calm and avoid actions that could escalate tensions. Meanwhile, Salam Mohammed Mustapha, the National Youth Organizer of the NPP, condemned the reported violence by NDC supporters and called on law enforcement agencies to act swiftly to restore order.
Looking Ahead
With John Dramani Mahama poised to take office, the peaceful transition of power marks another milestone in Ghana’s democratic journey. As the nation moves forward, resolving post-election disputes and maintaining stability will be crucial for sustaining public confidence in its electoral process.
