The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has conceded defeat to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ghana’s 2024 presidential election.
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP’s presidential candidate, made the announcement during a press briefing on Sunday, December 8, a day after the general elections. His concession came even before the Electoral Commission officially declared the results.
Dr. Bawumia’s decision followed a press conference by the NDC, where they claimed an early lead in both the presidential and parliamentary elections. He stated that provisional results from the NPP’s internal tallies indicated that the NDC’s candidate, John Dramani Mahama, had won the presidential race. He further noted that the NDC had secured a majority in the parliamentary elections, despite a few seats still awaiting final collation.
“I have called John Mahama to congratulate him on his victory,” Dr. Bawumia announced. Mr. Mahama confirmed the call in a post on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “This morning, I received a congratulatory call from my brother Mahamudu Bawumia following my emphatic victory in Saturday’s election. Thank you, Ghana.”
NDC Claims Historic Victory
The NDC, through its National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, declared the results as a historic victory based on provisional data collected from their agents across all 276 constituencies.
“Our provisional results clearly show that Ghanaians have rejected eight years of corruption and state capture,”
Mr. Gyamfi stated during a press conference. He emphasized that the people of Ghana had voted for change, highlighting the party’s respect for the decision with humility.
Electoral Commission Yet to Declare Final Results
The Electoral Commission (EC) clarified that as of Sunday morning, it had not received any results at the National Collation Centre. In a statement, the EC noted that the collation process was ongoing and results were still being forwarded to the regional collation centers. The Commission assured the public that the final declaration would be based on the legally mandated pink sheets signed at all 40,650 polling stations.
Ghana’s Reputation as a Democratic Beacon
Dr. Bawumia explained that his early concession was to help reduce tension and uphold Ghana’s reputation as a democratic beacon in Africa. He stated:
“It is important that the global investor community continues to believe in Ghana’s peaceful and democratic character. Ghana is more important than our individual ambitions, and we must put the nation first,”
Although this outcome is not what the NPP desired, Dr. Bawumia acknowledged the will of the people, adding that the party had given its best effort but respected the voters’ choice.
Outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo is stepping down after serving the maximum two terms in office.
The NDC’s John Mahama, who previously served as Ghana’s president from 2012 to 2017, is set to return to office.
Ghanaians hope that this new term will bring improved governance, as Mahama’s earlier tenure faced economic challenges, power crises, and corruption allegations.
Many have expressed great admiration for the NPP presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, commending his statesmanship. This move, they believe, will enhance his credibility and earn him greater respect both locally and within the international community.
