A one-term president of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, won the country’s presidential election after his main contender, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, accepted the outcome ahead of the official declaration of results.
Similarly, Mahama, who was the country’s helmsman between July 2012 and January 2017, also confirmed on his X handle that he had received Bawumia’s congratulatory call over his “emphatic victory.”
The defeat brings to an end a two-term tenure of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) led by President Nana Akufo-Addo.
Addressing journalists Sunday, Bawumia said: “The people of Ghana have spoken, the people have voted for change at this time and we respect it with all humility.”
The vice president said Mahama won the presidency “decisively”.
Explaining reasons in his concession speech, the NPP flag bearer in the election, admitted that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) secured victory in both the presidential and parliamentary polls.
He said: “Let me say that the data from our own internal collation of the election results indicate that former President John Dramani Mahama has won the presidential election decisively.”
According to him, “the NDC has also won the parliamentary election. Even though we await the final collation of a number of seats, I believe ultimately these will not change the outcome.
“I am making this concession speech before the official announcement by the electoral commission to avoid further tension and preserve the peace of our country.”
The presidential election was conducted nationwide on Saturday. However, the Electoral Commission of Ghana has yet to officially announce the final results.
The collation process is still ongoing across the country, but tension has been building since, as officials of both parties have been making inflammatory comments through press briefings. This concession speech more or less quelled the tension.
While thanking his supporters and party members, he added that the business community needed to see Ghana as a peaceful country.
“It is important that the world investor community continues to believe in the peaceful and democratic character of Ghana. The people have voted for change at this time, and we respect that decision with all humility,” said the vice president.
Mahama has successfully staged a comeback after two consecutive defeats. He lost the elections in 2016 and 2020.
Aside from Mahama’s return, Ghana is on course to have its first female vice-president. Jane Opoku-Agyemang, a 73-year-old former Minister of Education, who is on the verge of making history.
The official announcement is expected to be made by the Electoral Commission of Ghana, although the concession speech renders the final pronouncement a mere formality.
..One dies during poll
Meanwhile, The Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has confirmed the death of one individual due to election-related violence.
The EC confirmed the death during a briefing held at the National Collation Centre in Accra on Saturday.
Local media had reported that one person was shot in Kasoa Zongo, located in the Awutu Senya East Constituency.
Confirming the incident, Benjamin Bano-Bio, the director of Electoral Services, described the death as unfortunate, emphasising that it did not result from any action or inaction of the commission.
“This unfortunate act did not happen due to the action or inaction of the Electoral Commission,” Mr Bano-Bio said, adding that “a culprit has been arrested.”
Providing a breakdown of the election process, Mr Bano-Bio stated that over 95 per cent of polling stations closed by 5 p.m. in line with the law.
He also mentioned that the election witnessed a massive turnout but did not provide specific data to substantiate the claim.
Some journalists raised concerns about power outages in certain polling units. In response, Mr Bano-Bio explained that officials had been provided with funds to secure power generators. (Additional report from Premium Times)