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 folks 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 folks struggled to get jobs and the nation was unable to repay its money owed.
Regardless of Bawumia’s concession, no official outcomes have been declared.
The Electoral Fee (EC) stated outcomes had been delayed as a result of supporters of the 2 primary 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 a good time, cheering, waving flags, blowing vuvuzelas and spinning motorbikes.
“I am so excited for this victory,” Salifu Abdul-Fatawu informed the BBC within the central metropolis of Kumasi.
He stated he hoped it could imply that he and his sibling would get jobs, whereas the value of meals and gasoline would come down.
Even NPP supporter Nana accepted that “my celebration 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 Get together (NPP).
He stated these confirmed Mahama had received “decisively”, whereas the opposition Nationwide Democratic Congress (NDC) had additionally received the parliamentary election.
Mahama confirmed that Bawumia had known as to congratulate him on his “emphatic victory”.
The NDC earlier stated that its inner outcomes confirmed Mahama had received 56% of the vote in opposition to 41% for Bawumia.
The vice-president stated he was accepting defeat earlier than the official announcement of the outcomes “to keep away from additional pressure 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.
For the reason that return of multi-party politics to Ghana in 1992, solely candidates from both the NDC or the NPP have received the presidency.
No celebration has ever received greater than two consecutive phrases in energy – a development that appears set to proceed.
Mahama’s earlier time in workplace was marred by an ailing financial system, frequent power-cuts and corruption scandals.
Nonetheless, 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 might handle the nation effectively, however they’ve failed, and we take over once more.”
“John Mahama is the proper man to rule this nation. We’re fed up.”
Extra reporting by Natasha Booty
