In a surprising turn of events, Ghana’s Vice President and ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate, Mahamudu Bawumia, has conceded defeat to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Mahama. The announcement was made on Sunday, December 8, just a day after the general elections, and before the Electoral Commission officially declared the results.
During a press briefing, Bawumia stated that his decision was based on provisional tallies from the NPP’s internal data, which indicated a decisive victory for Mahama and the NDC. Despite pending collation from a few constituencies, Bawumia expressed confidence that the remaining votes would not alter the outcome.
“I have called John Mahama to congratulate him on his victory,” Bawumia revealed. Mahama later confirmed the congratulatory call on X, writing, “This morning, I received a congratulatory call from my brother Mahamudu Bawumia following my emphatic victory. Thank you, Ghana.”
NDC Claims Early Victory
Earlier, the NDC had declared a historic victory based on results gathered from agents across all 276 constituencies. Sammy Gyamfi, the party’s National Communications Officer, stated, “From our internal collation, it is clear that Ghanaians have rejected eight years of corruption and state capture.”
The NDC’s assertion reflected a strong belief that the electorate had voted for change, marking an end to the NPP’s governance. However, Gyamfi reiterated that only the Electoral Commission has the legal authority to declare the official results.
A Call for Peace and Stability
Bawumia emphasized that his decision to concede ahead of the official announcement was motivated by a desire to maintain national peace and Ghana’s democratic reputation. “It is crucial that Ghana continues to be seen as a beacon of democracy in Africa. Our peaceful democratic character is our most valuable asset,” he remarked.
He further urged Ghanaians to prioritize national unity over individual ambitions. “Although this is not the outcome we desired, the voice of the people is supreme, and we respect their decision with humility,” he added.
Electoral Commission’s Position
As of Sunday morning, the Electoral Commission (EC) announced that it had yet to receive complete results at the National Collation Center. The EC assured the public that official results would be published in line with legal protocols once collation is completed. “The final results will be determined solely by the signed pink sheets from all 40,650 polling stations,” the Commission stated.
A New Chapter for Ghana
With this concession, President Nana Akufo-Addo is set to step down after serving the maximum two terms allowed by law. John Mahama, 65, who previously served as Ghana’s president from 2012 to 2017, is poised to return to power. His first term was marked by economic challenges, including frequent power outages and corruption scandals, but many Ghanaians are hopeful for a different trajectory this time.
The world now watches as Ghana reaffirms its commitment to democracy, setting an example for peaceful transitions of power in Africa.
