Ghana’s new President, Mahama, top left, defeated candidate, Bawumia. Liberia’s new President, Boakai, bottom right, and the defeated candidate, Weah
* All Defeated Presidential Candidates Called to Congratulate Winners Before Official Results Were Out
Abubakar Hashim
With the Ghanaian electoral commissioner, Jean Mensa, yesterday officially declaring John Dramany Mahama, 66, winner, with 56.55% votes in a 60.9% voter turn out, Ghana, with Liberia and Senegal, have set a pace in 2024, for a smooth democratic transition.
In all 3 countries, the opposition candidates won the elections and were instantly called by ruling government candidates, to congratulate, even before official announcements were transmitted by the respective electoral management bodies.
In Senegal, opposition candidate, former prisoner, Diomaye Faye, 44, won with 54% of votes. His closest rival, government candidate, Amadou Ba, got 34% votes. Ba and even former President Macky Sall, called Faye to congratulate him before final results were out.
The same in Liberia, former President George Weah lost out to current President Joseph Boakai. Weah secured 49.1% votes, while Boakai got 50.9% votes. Weah quickly called Boakai to congratulate him, before official results were announced.
Ghana’s new President Mahama, in his acceptance yesterday said “The mandate serves as a constant reminder of what fate awaits us if we fail to reach the aspirations of our people and govern with arrogance “.
He went on to further remark that the victory shows that the Ghanaian people “have little tolerance for bad governance”.
His first task is to re negotiate a $3Billion IMF bail out package, secured last year by the out gone Akuofo Addo’s government to restructure the country’s debts.
He is also expected to run a 24- hour triple shift work system, enact tax reforms and invest $10 billion in modernising infrastructure.
In these three countries, Ghana, Liberia and Senegal, the cost of living topped voters choice. Theywitnessed smooth democratic transition in 2024.
*Abubakar Hashim is the West Africa Bureau Chief of TheNEWS Magazine based in Sierra Leone. He is currently writing from Nigeria