Ghana’s Vice-President Concedes Election to Opposition Leader John Mahama

Ghana’s Vice-President, Mahamudu Bawumia, has acknowledged his defeat in Saturday’s election and extended congratulations to the opposition contender, former President John Mahama, for his win. Bawumia stated, “The people have voted for change.” These elections occurred during the nation’s most severe economic downturn in a generation, characterized by a surge in the cost of essential commodities, high youth unemployment, and the country’s inability to service its debts. Notwithstanding Bawumia’s concession, official results have not yet been announced. The Electoral Commission (EC) reported that the delay in results was due to supporters of the two primary parties obstructing the process, prompting the commission to request police intervention to clear the collation centers. Across the country, Mahama’s supporters have commenced celebrations in the streets, marked by cheering, flag-waving, horn-blowing, and motorbike stunts. Salifu Abdul-Fatawu conveyed to the BBC in Kumasi, a central city, “I’m so excited for this victory.” He expressed his hope that this outcome would lead to employment for himself and his sibling, alongside a reduction in food and fuel prices. Even Nana, a supporter of the NPP, acknowledged that “my party is NPP, but whatever they did was not good.” “The system was so bad in an election year and so most people were not happy,” Nana further stated. While the election was largely peaceful, two individuals were fatally shot on Saturday in distinct incidents, and the electoral commission’s office in Damongo, a northern town, was reportedly destroyed by NDC supporters angered by the delays in result announcements. Ghanaians had anticipated the initial results within hours of the polls closing; however, the head of the Electoral Commission has urged patience, pointing out that the commission has a 72-hour window to declare the outcomes. Additionally, warehouses in both Damongo and Tamale, also located in the northern region, have been subjected to looting. Bawumia stated that his concession was predicated on internal vote counts from the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). He indicated that these tallies demonstrated Mahama’s “decisive” victory, and that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) had also secured a win in the parliamentary election. Mahama confirmed receiving a congratulatory call from Bawumia regarding his “emphatic victory.” Previously, the NDC had reported that its internal results indicated Mahama secured 56% of the vote compared to 41% for Bawumia. The Vice-President explained his decision to accept defeat prior to the official announcement of results was “to avoid further tension and preserve the peace of our country.” The US embassy in Accra, the capital, has extended its congratulations to Ghana for “a successful election.” President Nana Akufo-Addo is concluding his tenure, having reached the official limit of two terms in office. Mahama, aged 65, previously governed Ghana from 2012 to 2017, at which point Akufo-Addo succeeded him. Having also lost the 2020 election, this triumph signifies a remarkable return for Mahama. Since the reintroduction of multi-party politics in Ghana in 1992, the NDC and the NPP have consistently alternated in governance. No political party has ever secured more than two consecutive terms in power, a pattern that appears poised to persist. Mahama’s prior period in office was characterized by an struggling economy, recurrent power outages, and allegations of corruption. Nevertheless, Ghanaians are expressing hope for a different outcome this time. Throughout his campaign, Mahama pledged to transform Ghana into a “24-hour economy.” In Tamale, NDC supporter Gajia One informed the BBC: “We handed over to them [NPP] and thought they could manage the country well, but they have failed, and we take over again.” He added, “John Mahama is the right man to rule this country. We are fed up.” The incoming president is scheduled to be sworn into office on 7 January 2025.