Nana Akufo-Addo has emerged as Ghana’s President for a second term, defeating closest opposition and former President, John Dramani Mahama.
Akufo-Addo who has now won twice and lost twice in his four attempts at Ghana’s Presidency, garnered 51.59% of the total votes cast. Mahama on his part had 47.36% of the total votes. A candidate must have 50%+1 to be declared winner of the Presidential election.
Akufo-Addo had a total of 6,730,413 votes while Mahama had 6,214,889 votes.
Mahama had raced into an early lead on Wednesday after results from 7 regions were announced. Results from seven other regions soon tilted the election in favour of Akufo-Addo as he opened a wide lead courtesy of his over one million vote difference in the Ashanti region.
Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Jean Adukwei Mensa announced the results on Wednesday evening, more than 24 hours after the commission had initially promised. Mensa on Wednesday morning apologised to Ghanaians for the delay as she explained the reason behind the lateness in announcement.
“On the basis of the foregoing election results and by the powers vested in me as the chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, and the interim officer of the election, it is my duty and honour to declare Nana Akufo-Addo as President-elect of the Republic of Ghana, ” Mensa announced.
The electoral commission of Ghana has been hailed for the way it conducted the general elections.
In the Parliamentary elections, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) gained some grounds on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as it increased its number of representatives in the parliament.