Ghana Opposition Declares Victory Amid Ongoing Election Tallying

Ghana’s opposition, the NDC, claims provisional results indicate John Mahama winning the presidential election against NPP’s Bawumia, amid economic challenges. Voter dissatisfaction over high living costs and inflation has defined the election, with officials still processing official tallies, expected by Tuesday.

On Sunday, Ghana’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) party asserted that provisional results indicated their candidate, John Mahama, is winning the recent presidential election, although electoral officials are still compiling the official tallies. The competition primarily lay between Mahama and the ruling New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) candidate, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, who endeavored to distance himself from growing public dissatisfaction regarding economic policies and escalating living costs.

The election took place amid significant economic challenges, along with escalating debt, currency devaluation, and inflation, which had previously necessitated a $3 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Voters were choosing a successor to current President Nana Akufo-Addo, who is stepping down after reaching the two-term limit. Additionally, a new parliament was being elected.

NDC spokesman Sammy Gyamfi informed the press that their internal review reflected Mahama leading with 56.3 percent of the votes against Bawumia at 41.3 percent, stating, “It is very clear the people of this country have voted for change.” ChannelOne TV has reported that their count from 42 of the 276 constituencies similarly indicated Mahama’s lead.

Election Commission Deputy Commissioner Bossman Asare noted that the tallying process was ongoing and regional results were still pending arrival at the national center, emphasizing that official results might be available by Tuesday. Despite the calm atmosphere during voting, there were reports of violence, including two fatalities due to shootings in different regions, as confirmed by Ghana police.

Ghana, with a history of democratic stability, has seen its two principal parties—the NPP and the NDC—alternating in power since the establishment of multi-party democracy in 1992. Bawumia, campaigning under the slogan “Break the 8” to secure a third term for the NPP, faced considerable challenges due to the economic criticisms directed at his party’s record. Despite a decline in inflation rates from over 50 percent to approximately 23 percent, the electorate remained concerned about economic hardships, enabling Mahama’s return as a credible challenge, who previously served as president from 2012 to 2017 but had endured two unsuccessful presidential attempts thereafter.

The political landscape in Ghana is characterized by a dynamic democratic tradition, having established a multi-party system since 1992. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have been the dominant political forces, alternating power throughout the past decades. The recent presidential election was significant, not only for the immediate candidates—John Mahama of the NDC and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia from the NPP—but also due to the backdrop of Ghana’s economic challenges. Various socio-economic issues, including high inflation and a prior IMF bailout, have largely shaped the electorate’s perspectives and priorities, making the economic discourse pivotal in recent electoral cycles.

In summary, the NDC has claimed a lead in the recent presidential election, attributing this to voter dissatisfaction with the NPP’s economic management. The economy has proven to be a crucial issue in this election, particularly amidst significant inflation and debt challenges faced by the country. As electoral officials are still compiling the official results, the assertion from the NDC and the closeness of the race highlights ongoing political tensions and the electorate’s call for change.

Original Source: www.barrons.com