John Dramani Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, was on Monday, December 9, 2024 declared President-Elect by the Electoral Commission, just 48 hours after the December 7 polls. 

This marks a significant victory for Mahama, who previously served as President from 2012 to 2017.

Mahama secured 6,328,397 votes representing 56.55 per cent of the total votes cast.

Sixty-six year old Mahama was Vice President of Ghana from January 2009 to July 2012. He took office as president on July 24 2012, following the death of his predecessor, John Evans Atta Mills.

Mahamudu Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) his closest contender obtained 4,657,304 votes representing 41.61 per cent. The NDC’s Mahama defeated his closest contender Bawumia by 1,671,093 votes. The total valid votes cast were 11,191,422 with rejected votes totalling 239,109.

Total votes cast is 11,430,531. The total registered votes add up to 18,774,159. The percentage voter turnout based on the 267 constituencies out of 276 constituencies stands at 60.9 per cent.

Declaration

Declaring the results at the National Collation Centre in Accra on Monday, December 9,2024, the EC Chairperson, Mrs Jean Mensa explained that per the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, the winner of the presidential election must obtain at least 50 per cent plus one at the polls to be declared the winner of the election. 

She indicated that the results were based on 267 constituencies out of 276 constituencies meaning nine constituencies are yet to be declared. She said the nine constituencies were Awutu Senya East, Nsawam-Adoagyire, Akwatia, Suhum, Techiman South, Dome-Kwabenya, Ablekuma North, Ahafo-Ano North, and Damongo.

“We have collated the presidential results from all 16 administrative regions, of which 267 of the 276 constituencies have been captured. We have not been able to receive results from nine constituencies because our offices have been besieged by political party supporters, making it impossible to complete the collation process” she stated.

Results

The results for the other candidates as announced by the EC Chairperson are as follows, in the order they appear on the ballot paper: 

Daniel Augustus Lartey Jnr of the Great Consolidated Popular Party, who obtained 16,673, constituting 0.15 per cent; Christian Kwabena Andrews of the Ghana Union Movement had 16,461, being 0.15 per cent; Kofi Akpaloo of the Liberal Party of Ghana had 5,219, being 0.05 per cent while Mohammed Frimpong of the National Democratic Party got 4,413, being 0.04 per cent; Nana Akosua Frimpomaa Kumankuma of the Convention People's Party secured 23,397, being 0.21 per cent with Hassan Ayariga of the All People's Congress obtaining 17,461, being 0.16 per cent.

The independent candidates Kofi Koranteng;George Twum-Barima-Adu; Nana Kwame Bediako and Alan Kyerematen got their votes as follows: 3,320, being 0.03 per cent; 3,091, being 0.02 per cent; 84,478, being 0.75 per cent and 31,202, being 0.28 per cent in that order.

Nine constituencies 

The EC Chairperson indicated that despite the fact that results from nine constituencies were yet to be declared, the presidential results from the 267 constituencies, including the newly created one constituency, Guan clearly established the winner of the 2024 presidential election. 

“Simply put, even if all the votes from the nine constituencies were added to the candidate who placed second, it will not change the outcome of the election. It is important to note that the commission will update the records on receipts of the presidential results from the nine outstanding constituencies” Mrs Mensa further pointed out.

Additionally the EC Chairperson person explained that “the total registered voters in all nine constituencies add up to 947,116.”

Mrs Mensa further stated that “in the event that all the valid voters from the nine constituencies above voted for the candidate who placed second, the total number of votes he would garner would be 5,604,420, representing 46.17 per cent of the total valid votes, which would have been 12,138,538. The inclusion of the outstanding constituencies would have given the leading candidate 52.13 per cent which is still greater than the 50 per cent plus one required to be declared a winner.”

The EC Chairperson therefore declared that “In the light of the above, ladies and gentlemen, I have the singular honour as the returning officer of the 2024 presidential election to declare His Excellency John Dramani Mahama as the winner of the 2024 presidential election and the president-elect of the Republic of Ghana with a total percentage of 56.55 per cent. Congratulations, sir. It is finished.”

Atmosphere,guests

The declaration of the final results at the National Collation Centre was witnessed by a good number of people from all walks of life. They include representatives from the Economic Community of West African States(ECOWAS), the Coalition of Domestic Elections Observers(CODEO), International and local media practitioners. 

There were some high-profile personalities including the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dr Leonardo Santos Simão, the United Nations Representative Coordinator, Ghana, Mr Charles Abani and the United States Ambassador to Ghana,Virginia Palmer. Also in attendance were the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Harriet Thompson and a delegation from the European Union.