Ghana election results: John Mahama triumphs over Mahamudu Bawumia

Official outcomes from Saturday’s presidential election in Ghana have confirmed the victory of opposition candidate, former President John Mahama.

Mahama received with 56.6% in opposition to 41.6% for Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia. It is the largest margin of victory within the nation for twenty-four years.

Voter turnout was 60.9%, stated the pinnacle of Ghana’s electoral fee, Jean Mensa.

Mahama stated he felt “humbled” that he and his National Democratic Congress (NDC) had “chalked one of the best results in the electoral history of Ghana”.

He vowed “a new beginning, a new direction” and famous that Ghana had “made history” by selecting its first feminine Vice-President, Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang.

He additionally thanked Bawumia for conceding, which he did a day after the election.

The vice-president stated he had accepted defeat earlier than the official announcement of the outcomes “to avoid further tension and preserve the peace of our country”.

Nevertheless, there was nonetheless some frustration that it took so lengthy to announce the official outcomes.

President Nana Akufo-Addo is stepping down after reaching the official restrict of two phrases in workplace.

This election comes amid the worst financial disaster in a era.

Unemployment, the price of residing and considerations over the environmental affect of unlawful gold mining, generally known as “galmasey”, had been among the many key points.

With many Ghanaians determined for a change, Mahama received a number of areas – together with Bono, Ahafo, Western, and Central – which the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) had received in 2020.

Since Bawumia’s concession on Sunday, Mahama’s supporters have been celebrating throughout the nation.

People have been cheering, waving flags, blowing horns and spinning motorbikes.

“I’m so excited for this victory,” Salifu Abdul-Fatawu instructed the BBC within the central metropolis of Kumasi.

He stated he hoped it could imply that he and his sibling would get jobs, whereas the value of meals and gas would come down.

Although the election was typically peaceable, two individuals had been shot useless on Saturday in separate incidents.

The electoral fee workplace within the northern city of Damongo was additionally destroyed, allegedly by NDC supporters offended on the delays in saying the outcomes.

Mahama, 65, beforehand led Ghana from 2012 till 2017, when he was changed by Akufo-Addo. Mahama additionally misplaced the 2020 election so this victory represents a shocking comeback.

Mahama’s NDC and the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) have alternated in energy for the reason that return of multi-party politics to Ghana in 1992.

No occasion has ever received greater than two consecutive phrases in energy – a development that appears set to proceed.

Mahama’s earlier time in workplace was marred by an ailing financial system, frequent power-cuts and corruption scandals.

However, Ghanaians hope it will likely be completely different this time spherical.

During the marketing campaign, Mahama promised to rework Ghana right into a “24-hour economy”.

The new president will probably be sworn in on 7 January 2025.

Additional reporting by Komla Adom in Kumasi