Ghana remains ‘gold standard for democracy in Africa’ after Nana Akufo-Addo wins presidential election
Fears of violence never materialised, with a generally peaceful voting day followed by calm as the official results trickled in
Challenger Nana Akufo-Addo has won Ghana’s national election, tapping into an electorate fed up with a sputtering economy and ready for change.
Outgoing President John Mahama conceded defeat two days after a hotly contested election, seen as a test for a country generally viewed as a beacon of stability in west Africa, a region plagued by dictators and coups.
Akufo-Addo, an erudite 72-year-old human rights lawyer, cruised to victory winning 53.8 per cent of the votes, according to the country’s election agency.
I think Ghanaians should be extraordinarily proud of themselves... It is a gold standard for democracy in Africa
“I will not let you down. I will do all in my power to live up to your hopes and expectations,” Akufo-Addo said to an ecstatic crowd at his house in the country’s capital of Accra. “I will do my best to serve your interests and put our country back on the path of progress and prosperity.”
Mahama called to congratulate opposition leader Akufo-Addo, whose New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters had been gathering for hours outside his house after local media gave him a clear lead following the Wednesday vote.
“Yes, he has conceded defeat,” George Lawson of Mahama’s New Democratic Congress (NDC) party said.
Akufo-Addo had campaigned on a platform promising to boost growth and deliver jobs.
“The president of Ghana is president for every single Ghanaian,” Akufo-Addo said, as fireworks popped overhead and thousands of people cheered in the streets outside his house.