The Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson, Jean Mensa, has officially declared John Dramani Mahama, the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), as Ghana’s president-elect in the 2024 general elections.
The elections, held nationwide on Saturday, December 7, resulted in a decisive victory for Mr. Mahama, who secured 6,328,397 votes, representing 56.55% of the total valid votes. His closest contender, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), garnered 4,657,304 votes, equating to 41.61%.
Ms. Mensa, serving as the returning officer, noted that the results were based on 267 out of 276 constituencies, as nine constituencies faced unresolved issues. She clarified that even if the votes from these nine constituencies, amounting to over 400,000, were added, they would not alter the outcome.
The total valid votes counted stood at 11,191,422, with 239,109 rejected ballots. Voter turnout was recorded at 60.9%.
Parliamentary Results and Election Day Events
In addition to the presidential election, Ghanaians voted to elect Members of Parliament. While results for some parliamentary seats remain unresolved, the NDC has secured a clear majority in Parliament.
The elections, which started peacefully on Saturday morning, were later marred by incidents of attempted vote rigging, delays in result collation, and post-election violence. Three lives were lost, and several individuals sustained injuries. The Ghana Police Service has arrested 89 suspects in connection with various election-related offences.
Calls for Calm Amid Tensions
Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communications Officer for the NDC, called on party supporters to remain peaceful and avoid engaging in violence. Similarly, Salam Mohammed Mustapha, the National Youth Organizer of the NPP, condemned the actions of some NDC supporters and urged law enforcement to act decisively to prevent further unrest.
As Ghana navigates the aftermath of this historic election, the Electoral Commission remains committed to finalizing the results and addressing any outstanding concerns.
