Ghana’s vice president and ruling party candidate, Mahamudu Bawumia, conceded defeat Sunday to opposition candidate and veteran President John Dramani Mahama in the West African nation’s tightly contested presidential election.
Earlier than the legit announcement, Bawumia told reporters that he respects the decision of Ghanaians to vote for exchange. “I’ve correct known as His Excellency John Mahama to congratulate him as president-elect of the Republic of Ghana,” he acknowledged.
Celebrations broke out in parts of the country including the capital, Accra.
The election modified into held in opposition to the backdrop of the country’s worst designate-of-residing crisis in a abilities and viewed as a litmus take a look at for democracy in a space shaken by extremist violence and coups.
Bawumia modified into operating as the flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party, or NPP, which has struggled to solve the financial crisis under outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo.
Mahama’s get is viewed following the most fresh style of elections around the world, favoring opposition occasions in opposition to incumbents, from the United States to European worldwide locations — akin to Britain and France — as well to South Africa.
Mahama, 65, modified into president of Ghana between July 2012 and January 2017.
In the route of his marketing campaign, Mahama promised to “reset” the country on various fronts and tried to allure to younger Ghanaians who saw the vote as a manner out of the country’s financial