A Historic Comeback: John Mahama Returns as President of Ghana with Record-Breaking Victory Margin
The Electoral Commission of Ghana has officially declared former President John Mahama as the president-elect following the general elections held on December 7, 2024. John Mahama, the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), emerged victorious in a tightly contested election, defeating his closest rival, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the outgoing Vice President and candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The announcement was made on Monday, December 9, 2024, by Jean Mensa, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, at a press briefing in Accra. The electoral commission said it had counted votes from 267 out of the 276 constituencies. Voter turnout was 60.9%.
According to the Electoral Commission, John Mahama secured 6,328,397 votes, representing 56.55% of the total valid votes cast. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia followed with 4,657,304 votes, amounting to 41.61%. The Commission noted that results from nine constituencies were still outstanding, but their inclusion would not affect the final outcome. Again, John Mahama won 13 Regions out of a total of 16 Regions in Ghana.
His win marks a historic victory, making him the first president in the three decades of Ghana’s Fourth Republic – since the 1992 return to multi-party democracy – to reclaim the presidency after being voted out.With this result, President Nana Akufo-Addo’s term will officially conclude on January 7, 2025, when he will hand over power to the newly elected president, John Mahama.
Before the official announcement by the Electoral Commission, the ruling NPP conceded defeat. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia formally acknowledged the outcome during a press conference held on Sunday, December 8, 2024, shortly after the NDC declared an early lead. Dr. Bawumia confirmed that he had called John Mahama to congratulate him on his victory.
The president-elect also confirmed the call in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), saying: “This morning, I received a congratulatory call from my brother, Mahamudu Bawumia, following my emphatic victory in Saturday’s election. Thank you, Ghana”
Order of Votes Gained by the Presidential Candidates (From Highest to Lowest)…
• ✅ John Dramani Mahama (NDC) – 6,328,397 (56.55%)
• Mahamudu Bawumia (NPP) – 4,657,304 (41.61%)
• Nana Kwame Bediako (New Force Movement) – 84,478 (0.75%)
• Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen (Movement For Change) – 31,202 (0.28%)
• Nana Akosua Frimpomaa (CPP) – 23,397
• Hassan Abdulai Ayariga (APC) – 17,461
• Daniel Augustus Lartey Jnr. (GCPP) – 16,673
• Christian Kwabena Andrews (GUM) – 16,461
• Kofi Akpaloo (LPG) – 5,219
• Mohammed Frimpong (NDP) – 4,413Kofi Koranteng (IND) – 3,320
• George Twum-Barima-Adu (IND) – 3,091
✓Total Vote Count: 11,430,531
✓Total Valid Votes: 11,191,422
✓Rejected Ballots: 239,109
✓Voter Turn Out (Percentage): 60.9%
The 2024 general election marks a significant moment in Ghana’s democratic history, as power transitions once again between the country’s two major political parties.
