Former President John Dramani Mahama has been declared the winner of Ghana’s 2024 presidential election, securing a remarkable return to the nation’s highest office after a fierce contest.
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The announcement, made by the Electoral Commission (EC) on Monday, December 9, confirmed Mahama’s victory with 6,328,397 votes cast representing 56.55% of the valid votes cast, defeating his primary rival, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who garnered 4,657,304 votes representing 41.61%.
Mahama’s victory also marked a significant achievement for his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which won a majority in the Parliament.
Over 160 seats have already been confirmed for the NDC, including key constituencies traditionally held by the ruling NPP. This success strengthens Mahama’s mandate as he prepares to assume the presidency once again.
The 2024 election saw a voter turnout of 60.9%, with the process largely peaceful, although there were some reports of isolated incidents of violence and logistical challenges in certain constituencies, including Damongo, Ablekuma Central, and Okaikwei North.
Following the results, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, in a gracious concession speech, acknowledged Mahama’s victory and urged his supporters to accept the outcome peacefully. “We have fought a good fight. The people have spoken, and we must respect their decision,” Bawumia stated, calling for unity and calm as Ghana moves forward.
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Mahama is expected to address the nation shortly after the official declaration by the EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa.
His speech will likely outline his vision for the country as he prepares for his second term in office, set to begin with his swearing-in on January 7, 2025.
Observers, both local and international, have praised the Electoral Commission for overseeing a transparent and credible election process, despite the challenges encountered during the election period.
Mahama, who served as President from 2012 to 2016, had previously lost the 2016 election to President Akufo-Addo and also failed to reclaim the presidency in 2020.
However, following predictions from several polling organizations, including the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Global InfoAnalytics, and Fitch, that forecast a victory for the opposition, Mahama’s return marks a significant political shift.
As Mahama prepares for his return to the presidency, the NDC’s overwhelming victory in Parliament will serve as a key element of his political strength as he takes on the challenges of leading Ghana through the next four years.
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