Ghana: Akufo-Addo Wins Reelection, Mahama Kicks
By Stanley Ugagbe
President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana has defeated his arch rival John Mahama to secure another four-year mandate to lead Africa’s biggest gold producer.
According to the nation’s electoral body, Akufo-Addo got 6.73 million votes, or 51.6% of valid ballots, while his main opposition, Mahama of the National Democratic Congress, got 47.4%.
Speaking on the aftermath of the election, Akufo-Addo said “My immediate task will be to begin the process of reversing the effect Covid-19 has had on our economy and on our lives”
“Before the pandemic struck, Ghana in recent years was one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and, I give you my word, we will bring back that reputation.”
He succinctly averred that “The Ghanaian people have made it loud and clear that the two parties, NPP and NDC, must work together especially in parliament for the good of the country”.
According to local report, the 76-year-old incumbent had a solid economic record prior to the advent of the coronavirus.
In a swift reaction, John Mahama rejected and tagged the result “fraudulent”.
“I stand before you tonight unwilling to accept the fictionalised results of a flawed election,” he told a news conference.
“We will take all legitimate steps to reverse this tragedy of justice.”
The 62-year-old claimed that “numerous steps have been taken to manipulate the results of the election in favour of the incumbent.”
“Armed forces featured heavily as an intimidating measure to reverse election results,” Mahama said and called on the international community “to remain engaged in what is happening in Ghana and to take careful note of the current threat that is being waged to our democracy.”
As of the time of filing this report, provisional results published by the electoral commission stated that Akufo-Addo’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) won 137 seats in parliament, while Mahama’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) won 136.
It should be noted that Mahama and Akufo-Addo are long-standing rivals and this was their third election battle. In 2012, it was Akufo-Addo who contested Mahama’s win.
The two parties have dominated Ghanaian politics since 1992, and many previous ballots have also been close. Candidates from ten other smaller parties ran for president, garnering a combined 1% of valid votes, according to the electoral commission’s figures.
