Ghana’s ex-leader Mahama declared presidential election winner

Ghana’s former leader John Dramani Mahama was declared the winner of the presidential election on Monday and pledged a “a life of limitless opportunity” for citizens after voters vented their anger over the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

Previously president of the West African nation between 2012 and 2017, the 65-year-old Mahama received 56.5 per cent of votes cast, or 6.3 million votes, the electoral commission said. His main opponent from the current governing party, Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, conceded defeat on Sunday and got 41 per cent, or 4.6 million votes.

Electoral commissioner Jean Mensa said vote-counting continued in nine constituencies but would not change the final result. Turnout was just over 60 per cent.

Mahama had promised to “reset” the country on various fronts. His campaign prioritised the economy and largely appealed to young Ghanaians who saw the vote as a way out of the economic crisis.

In his victory speech on Monday, Mahama said Ghana must be able to meet the basic needs of its people including affordable housing, healthcare, food, clean water, safe work and fair wages.

“We want a Ghana that considers the well-being of all her citizens and affords them each the ability to live a life of dignity, a life of limitless opportunity,” he said. “This country, this land, is not for one person or for one family or for one tribe or ethnic group.”