Ghana’s Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia has accepted defeat in Saturday’s election and congratulated the opposition candidate, former President John Mahama, on his victory.
“The individuals have voted for change,” stated Bawumia.
The elections come amid the nation’s worst financial disaster in a era, which noticed the price of fundamental items shoot up, whereas younger individuals struggled to get jobs and the nation was unable to repay its money owed.
Despite Bawumia’s concession, no official outcomes have been declared.
The Electoral Commission (EC) stated outcomes had been delayed as a result of supporters of the 2 fundamental events had been impeding the method and it had requested the police to clear the collation centres.
Mahama’s supporters have taken to the streets across the nation to have fun, cheering, waving flags, blowing vuvuzelas and spinning motorbikes.
“I’m so excited for this victory,” Salifu Abdul-Fatawu informed the BBC within the central metropolis of Kumasi.
He stated he hoped it will imply that he and his sibling would get jobs, whereas the worth of meals and gasoline would come down.
Even NPP supporter Nana accepted that “my get together is NPP, however no matter they did was not good.
“The system was so unhealthy in an election 12 months and so most individuals weren’t blissful.”
Bawumia stated he was basing his assertion on inner tallies from the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He stated these confirmed Mahama had gained “decisively”, whereas the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) had additionally gained the parliamentary election.
Mahama confirmed that Bawumia had referred to as to congratulate him on his “emphatic victory”.
The NDC earlier stated that its inner outcomes confirmed Mahama had gained 56% of the vote towards 41% for Bawumia.
The vice-president stated he was accepting defeat earlier than the official announcement of the outcomes “to keep away from additional rigidity and protect the peace of our nation”.
President Nana Akufo-Addo is stepping down after reaching the official restrict of two phrases in workplace.
Mahama, 65, beforehand led Ghana from 2012 till 2017, when he was changed by Akufo-Addo. Mahama additionally misplaced the 2020 election so this victory represents a shocking comeback.
Since the return of multi-party politics to Ghana in 1992, solely candidates from both the NDC or the NPP have gained the presidency.
No get together has ever gained greater than two consecutive phrases in energy – a pattern that appears set to proceed.
Mahama’s earlier time in workplace was marred by an ailing economic system, frequent power-cuts and corruption scandals.
However, Ghanaians hope it will likely be totally different this time spherical.
In Tamale, NDC supporter Gajia One informed the BBC: “We handed over to them [NPP] and thought they may handle the nation nicely, however they’ve failed, and we take over once more.”
“John Mahama is the best man to rule this nation. We are fed up.”
Additional reporting by Natasha Booty
