Ghana Presidential Election: Preliminary Results Indicate Shift

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In Ghana's recent presidential election (96.74% counted), preliminary results show a significant shift towards John Mahama (NDC, center-left) with 56.94% of the vote, a 9.34% increase from 2020. Incumbent Mahamudu Bawumia (NPP) has 41.27%, a 9.91% decrease. "Other" candidates received 1.79%. While provisional, these results suggest a considerable swing in voter support towards the NDC and a potential change in political alignment. Official results are pending.

Article by Martin Foskett. 18:29. 01 Jan 2025 

Africa. Ghana. According to preliminary results, Ghana's recent presidential election has seen a significant shift in voter preference, with 96.74% of votes counted. The data suggests a strong showing for John Mahama, representing the National Democratic Congress (NDC), a centre-left party. In contrast, the incumbent party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), led by its candidate Mahamudu Bawumia, appears to have lost ground.

The provisional results indicate that John Mahama has garnered 56.94% of the vote. This figure represents a substantial increase of 9.34 percentage points compared to the 2020 election. Conversely, Mahamudu Bawumia and the NPP have secured 41.27% of the vote, reflecting a decrease of 9.91 percentage points from the previous election. The remaining 1.79% of the votes are attributed to other candidates, showing a slight increase of 0.47 percentage points compared to 2020.

These preliminary figures highlight a notable change in the political landscape and suggest a significant swing in voter support towards the NDC. The substantial gains made by Mahama, coupled with the significant losses experienced by Bawumia, point to a potential shift in the public's political alignment. While not final, the data paints a clear picture of a competitive election with a considerable change from the previous presidential race.

It is crucial to remember that these are provisional results based on nearly complete vote counts. The official declaration of the winner by the Electoral Commission is still pending and will be the final confirmation of the election outcome. The slight increase in votes for "Others" also suggests that while the two major parties continue to dominate, a growing segment of the electorate may be open to alternative political options.

As the country awaits the final results, these numbers provide valuable insight into the current political climate in Ghana. The shift in percentages indicates a change in voter sentiment, and the official results will be closely watched to confirm the trends suggested by this preliminary data. Further analysis will be needed to fully understand the factors contributing to this electoral shift and how it will impact the future of Ghana's political landscape.