ACCRA — John Dramani Mahama, presidential candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has been declared Ghana’s president-elect in the 2024 general election.
Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson Jean Mensa announced the results on Monday, Dec. 9, following the Dec. 7 polls.
Mahama secured 56.55% of the votes, defeating Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who garnered 41.61%.
Mahama received 6,328,397 votes, while Bawumia polled 4,657,304. The margin of 1,671,093 votes ensures Mahama’s victory, even as results from nine constituencies, representing about 947,000 votes remain outstanding.
Mensa assured that the uncollated results would not affect the outcome.
“If the results from the nine constituencies are added to the first runner-up’s tally, it will not alter the declaration,” Mensa said.
The total valid votes cast were 11,191,422, with 239,109 rejected ballots. Voter turnout, based on 267 constituencies, was 60.9%.
While Mahama’s NDC claimed a clear parliamentary majority, tensions flared in some areas over allegations of vote rigging and delays in result collation.
Post-election violence has claimed three lives and left several injured. The Ghana Police Service has arrested 89 individuals for election-related offenses.
“We urge all supporters to remain calm and law-abiding,” said Sammy Gyamfi, the NDC National Communications Officer.
Salam Mohammed Mustapha, National Youth Organizer for the NPP, called on the police to address disturbances swiftly and condemned violence attributed to NDC supporters.
Other Presidential Candidates’ Results:
- GCPP: Daniel Augustus Lartey Jnr. — 16,673 (0.15%)
- GUM: Christian Kwabena Andrews — 16,461 (0.15%)
- LPG: Kofi Akpalo — 5,219 (0.09%)
- NDP: Mohammed Frimpong — 4,413 (0.04%)
- CPP: Nana Akosua Frimpomaa — 23,397 (0.21%)
- ACP: Hassan Ayariga — 17,461 (0.16%)
- Independent Candidates:
- Kofi Koranteng — 3,320 (0.03%)
- George Twum-Barima-Adu — 3,091 (0.02%)
- Nana Kwame Bediako — 84,488 (0.75%)
- Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen — 31,022 (0.28%)
Ghanaians also voted for members of parliament in a closely watched election that saw high stakes for both the presidency and the legislature.
Despite challenges, Mahama’s win marks a return to power for the former president, who previously served from 2012 to 2017.