PRESS RELEASE
Accra, Ghana 9th December 2024
The ECOWAS Election Observation Mission (EOM) says that “despite a few minor challenges, the conduct of the 2024 General elections (in Ghana) was largely peaceful and, to a significant extent, complied with national and regional normative frameworks.”
“The professionalism of the polling staff and the effective presence of security agents at polling venues ensured that Ghanaian voters were able to freely and secretly express their choices in an atmosphere that guaranteed their safety. However, the Mission was made aware and regretted the isolated security incident at Nyankpala, in the Northern Region, which led to the death of one person and injury to another,” the Mission said in its Preliminary Declaration read at a Press Conference by the Head of Mission and former Nigerian Vice-President Namadi Sambo in Accra on Monday.
Addressing the joint Press Conference organised by the African Union, ECOWAS and Commonwealth Election Observation Missions, Dr Sambo said: “The arrangements made by the Electoral Management Body (EMB) for People with disabilities (PWDs) and the visually impaired to enable their independent voting contributed to the inclusivity of the process.”
The ECOWAS Mission commended “the high sense of professionalism and patriotism exhibited by polling staff, the security agents, and the electorate, who collectively played their part in ensuring the transparent and peaceful conduct of the 2024 General elections.”
The Mission also acknowledged the “sportsmanship displayed by the Presidential candidates in living up to their commitments under the Peace Pact. The Mission particularly recognises the magnanimity of the presidential candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mahamudu Bawumia, for conceding defeat even before the official declaration of the results of the Presidential election, which contributed to dousing tensions in the country.
The Mission also congratulated the President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, for his victory at the polls.
The ECOWAS EOM congratulated the people of Ghana and wished them continued peace, progress and development.
“Finally, the ECOWAS Observation Mission salutes the outgoing President, His Excellency Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo Addo, for his able stewardship of this important ECOWAS Member State, Ghana over the last eight years and commends him for his leadership, mediation efforts and regional integration initiatives on behalf of the Community, including during his selfless service as a two-term Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.
Similarly, the African Union, Head of the Mission Sahle-Work Zewde, former President of Ethiopia, Mokqweetsi Eric Masisi, former President of Botswana and Head of the Commonwealth Mission all read their delegations’ Preliminary Declarations, with similar observations.
Also, in attendance included Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Head of the West African Elders Forum, Leonardo Santos Simão, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel, and Amb. Aisha Abdullahi, former Commissioner of Political Affairs, African Union and Head of Yiaga Africa, called for collective solutions to identified challenges to strengthen democracy in the region.
The others were the former ECOWAS Commission President Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, and Ambassador Mohammed Lawan Gana, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Ghana.
The ECOWAS Mission deployed 70 observer teams, which visited 871 polling stations in 54 urban and rural districts across the 16 regions of Ghana.
