THE Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, lauded Ghana’s electoral system for its innovative processes and political stability, which contributed to the smooth conduct of the country’s 2024 presidential election.
Former Ghanaian President John Mahama emerged victorious in the election held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, after his main opponent, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, conceded defeat.
Bawumia confirmed in a statement that he had called Mahama, the National Democratic Congress candidate, to congratulate him.
“The people of Ghana have spoken and have voted for change at this time. We respect this with all humility,” he said.
According to AFP, the Ghanaian Election Commission indicated that the official results would likely be announced by Tuesday.
Prof. Yakubu, who observed the election and shared his insights in a video obtained by reporters, highlighted Ghana’s political stability, attributing it to consistent party structures and strong voter loyalty.
He also acknowledged the perseverance of political leaders, referencing President Nana Akufo-Addo, who contested multiple elections before achieving victory.
“In Ghana, it is uncommon to see voters or politicians switching parties with each election. This consistency fosters stability both within the political system and among party supporters, many of whom remain loyal whether their party is in power or opposition,” Yakubu noted.
Yakubu also commended Ghana’s adoption of a decentralized approach to announcing election results, inspired by Nigeria’s system.
Previously, all results were sent to the Electoral Commission’s headquarters in Accra.
However, Ghana now allows constituency-level officers to announce parliamentary results locally while sending only presidential results to the central office.
“This decentralized method, borrowed from Nigeria, has significantly improved efficiency,” Yakubu explained.
“In Nigeria, we have returning officers who announce parliamentary results in their constituencies, while only presidential results are centralized.
Ghana has implemented this approach for the second time, which has expedited the announcement of results compared to previous elections.”
Expressing his satisfaction with the process, Yakubu stated, “The election has been conducted commendably. We appreciate the efforts of Ghana’s Electoral Commission and continue to support our colleagues in their work.”
The New Patriotic Party’s defeat in yesterday’s election ends its two-term tenure under President Akufo-Addo, a period marked by Ghana’s worst economic crisis in years, characterized by high inflation and a debt default.