PRESS RELEASE
Accra, Ghana 10th December 2024
Ghana’s outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo has congratulated President-elect John Dramani Mahama, on “his decisive victory” in the 7 December 2024 election and invited him to a meeting to initiate the transition process.
“In the spirit of collaboration, the President has invited the President-elect for a meeting on Wednesday 11 December 2024 at Jubilee House to initiate the transition process,” an official statement said in Accra on Monday night after the Electoral Commission (EC) declared former President Mahama of the opposition NDC, winner with 56.55% of the vote against 41.61% scored by outgoing Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, of the ruling NPP.
The President expressed his commitment “to ensure a seamless transfer of power on 7th January 2025 and looks forward to working with the President-elect and his team to realise this goal,” the statement added.
He congratulated the EC and the Ghanaian people “for a successful election that reflects the enduring strength of Ghana’s democracy,” and “acknowledges the commitment and participation of all stakeholders, which have ensured that the democratic process in Ghana remains credible and peaceful.”
The outgoing president called “on all Ghanaians to unite and work together to consolidate democracy and the rule of law in our country.”
Before the EC announced the official result of the election, Dr Bawumia telephoned former President Mahama to concede defeat.
In his acceptance speech, President-elect Mahama, who defeated Akufo-Addo in the 2012 presidential race, but lost to him on two subsequent occasions (2016 and 2020), described his latest victory as an “outstanding mandate” from the people of Ghana and promised to inaugurate a joint transition team with outgoing President Akufo-Addo on Wednesday 11 December.
Joined on stage by his wife Lordina and children, he highlighted the election of his running mate Prof Jane Nana Opoku-Agyemang, Ghana’s first female elected Vice President as a milestone for gender equality, that should serve as an inspiration for women.
As Ghana’s 13th President, Mahama promised to create more well-paying jobs and address other national needs such as affordable housing, healthcare, food security and access to clean water.
Vowing to reset Ghana, he said “The crisis our beloved country has been through these last several years has left a scar on our national psyche, which may take some time to erase.”
“We intend to work together to restore confidence in our politics and governance system,” he affirmed. “This election and this outcome represent an opportunity for a new beginning…”
It was the ninth cycle of elections since the return of multi-party democracy in 1992 in Ghana, with a track record of peaceful transfer of political power, dominated by the two political parties.
File photo (L-R) – President-elect Mahama with Outgoing President Akufo-Addo
