John Mahama declared President-Elect ffter tight Ghanaian election

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Accra, Ghana — Former President John Dramani Mahama has been declared the winner of Ghana’s presidential election, marking his return to the helm after a tightly contested race against Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia.

Mahama, representing the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), secured 51.3% of the vote, defeating Bawumia of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), who garnered 48.4%, according to Ghana’s Electoral Commission. The election saw a voter turnout of 74.2%, with over 12.6 million of the 17 million registered voters participating.

The announcement followed Bawumia’s concession earlier in the day. “I’ve just called His Excellency John Mahama to congratulate him as president-elect of the Republic of Ghana,” Bawumia told reporters. “I respect the decision of Ghanaians to vote for change.”

Mahama, who previously served as president from 2012 to 2017, ran on a platform centred on economic recovery and tackling corruption. He has pledged to renegotiate Ghana’s $3 billion IMF bailout and rebuild trust in government institutions.

“The people of Ghana have voted for a new direction,” Mahama said during his victory speech in Accra. “We will work together to restore hope and revive our economy.”

Ghana’s economic woes have dominated the political landscape in recent years. The country’s debt-to-GDP ratio has exceeded 70%, and inflation, which peaked at 31.2% earlier this year, has since fallen to 19.8%. Mahama’s victory signals a mandate to address these pressing challenges.

– Registered voters: 17 million | Turnout: 74.2% | Votes cast: 12.6 million | Mahama’s share: 51.3% | Bawumia’s share: 48.4% | Invalid votes: 0.3%

The election, held on 7 December, was lauded by international observers, including delegations from the African Union, ECOWAS, and the European Union. Observers commended the peaceful and transparent conduct of the polls.

“Ghana continues to demonstrate its commitment to democracy,” said an African Union spokesperson.

Security was robust, with 50,000 police and military personnel deployed across 38,000 polling stations to maintain order. No significant incidents were reported.

Mahama’s presidency is expected to prioritise addressing Ghana’s economic challenges, creating jobs, and restoring investor confidence. Analysts also point to his administration’s potential to reinforce Ghana’s position as a leader in West Africa.

He is set to be sworn in on 7 January 2025. Meanwhile, the ruling NPP will transition to the opposition, vowing to hold the new government accountable.

This election underscores Ghana’s democratic resilience and highlights the nation’s capacity to navigate political transitions peacefully.