Ghana had her ninth general election on Saturday, December 7, 2024.
On Monday, December 9, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, Mrs. Jean Mensa, officially declared John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress as the president-elect.
The presidential poll, held across the 40,976 polling stations contested by 12 of the 15 registered political parties and four independents with 18,774,159 registered voters resulted in a landslide victory for former president Mahama.
According to the EC chairperson who was the returning officer, Jean Mensa, former president John Mahama polled 6,328,397 votes representing 56.55%, while the vice president and presidential candidate of the governing New Patriotic Party, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, secured 4, 657, 304 votes, representing 41.61%.
The NPP candidate and the outgoing Vice President of Ghana, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, on Sunday, December 8 showed statesmanship by calling his main rival, Mahama, to concede victory and congratulate him.
It is noteworthy that no political party has been able to win more than two elections back to back in Ghana since 1992. The electoral upset which led to massive defeat of the ruling New Patriotic Party follows the political trajectory in Liberia in November 2023, Senegal in March 2024, the UK in July 2024, and in the US in November 2024.
“Nigerians today face similar struggles like soaring food prices, escalating petrol costs, and crippling transportation fares. These same issues that brought down Ghana’s NPP threaten to undermine Nigeria’s APC. However, the APC still has time to take stock, address these challenges, and implement meaningful changes.”
In these countries, opposition political parties were able to roundly defeat the party in power thereby causing political upset. The contributory factors in all of these are growing cost of living, inflation, and unemployment.
Though Ghana has long established herself as an oasis of democracy in what is regarded as the coup belt of Africa; the last elections are not without flaws.
According to the appraisal of the elections done by a Ghanaian newspaper, Myjoyonline, “The exercise, which started peacefully on Saturday morning, later escalated into chaos in some parts of the country due to issues of attempted rigging, and delays in the collation of results in some constituencies.
“The post-election violence has claimed three lives, with many others injured. The Ghana Police Service has so far arrested 89 people for various election-related offences.
There were also reported cases of vote buying on the internet.”
Ghana, a country of over 34 million people with 16 administrative regions and 276 electoral constituencies shares a common history with Nigeria.
Apart from being a former British colony, the country also had its fair share of military rule. Under Section 44 (2) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, the Chairperson of the electoral commission is appointed on similar conditions as a Justice of the Court of Appeal.
Among the similarities between Nigeria and Ghana are: They are both in their Fourth Republic running multiparty democracy. Despite having a de jure multiparty system, they are both de facto two party countries.
While the two dominant political parties in Nigeria are All Progressives Congress and People’s Democratic Party, in Ghana, the dominant political parties are New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress.
Both countries are members of the Economic Community of West African States and long time trade partners; both countries run a presidential system of government of four-year tenure and maximum of two terms for executive positions. Both nations now sign peace accords ahead of presidential elections. Voting age in Ghana is 18 just like in Nigeria.
In Ghana, just like in Nigeria, there is no grant given to political parties. They source their money internally without limit while foreign donation is barred.
According to Section 55 (15) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, only a citizen of Ghana can make a contribution or donation to a political party registered in Ghana.
Unlike in Nigeria however, Ghana has provision for Independent Candidacy. Voting hours are from 7am – 5pm and there is no lockdown of the country as with the case in Nigeria.
Election day in Ghana is December 7 of the election year and the swearing in date for the new president is January 7 of the new year. This is very much like the US where the election is the first Tuesday in November of the election year and inauguration is on January 20 of the following year.
To win the presidential election in Ghana, a candidate needs to win 50+1 of the valid votes cast. That means the absolute majority of the votes cast. To be eligible to run in the presidential election, candidates must be Ghanaian, 40 years or older and registered voters.
Candidates for parliamentary seats must be Ghanaian of 21 years or older and registered voters. Candidates for the elections must not owe allegiance to any other country and must have settled all tax obligations.
What makes Ghana’s December 7 presidential election particularly striking is that even supporters of the NPP welcomed their party’s defeat. This unusual occurrence reflects the extent of the economic challenges faced by Ghanaians.
Ghana’s presidential election result sends a strong message and serves as an early warning to Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress. The defeat of Ghana’s ruling New Patriotic Party in the December 7, 2024 presidential election is a stark warning to Nigeria’s APC.
For the majority of voters, particularly the masses, what truly matters are tangible results like affordable food, reduced living costs, and economic relief. They care little for figures, statistics, reforms, or long-term projections if their immediate needs remain unmet.
Nigerians today face similar struggles like soaring food prices, escalating petrol costs, and crippling transportation fares. These same issues that brought down Ghana’s NPP threaten to undermine Nigeria’s APC.
However, the APC still has time to take stock, address these challenges, and implement meaningful changes.
When the economy fails, so does the trust of the people. Voters, particularly those struggling to meet their basic needs, will not hesitate to hold governments accountable at the ballot box.
Rising food prices, high living costs, and unemployment are not just economic indicators. They are everyday realities that define the quality of life for ordinary citizens.
If the APC fails to address these pressing challenges and provide visible, immediate solutions, it risks suffering a similar fate as Ghana’s ruling NPP. The Ghanaian experience highlights a universal truth that no amount of political rhetoric or long-term promises can outweigh the frustration of citizens whose daily struggles remain unresolved.
Lastly, as the tenure of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as INEC chairman ends in 2025, President Bola Tinubu should scout for a virtuous person to replace him.
