The Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has praised a notable political tradition in Ghana, where politicians rarely switch parties with each general election—a sharp contrast to the frequent defections seen in Nigeria,Daily Trust reports.
Prof. Yakubu also lauded Ghana’s electoral process, emphasizing its innovations and political stability as key contributors to the smooth conduct of the country’s 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.
According to Daily Trust, former Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama emerged victorious in the presidential election held on Saturday. His primary opponent, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), conceded defeat.
Speaking to reporters at his residence, Bawumia confirmed Mahama’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) also secured a parliamentary majority. “The people of Ghana have spoken, and they have voted for change. We respect this with all humility,” he stated, adding that he had called Mahama to offer his congratulations.
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The election outcome marks the end of two consecutive terms for the NPP under President Nana Akufo-Addo, a tenure overshadowed by Ghana’s most severe economic crisis in years, featuring high inflation and a debt default.
Prof. Yakubu, who monitored the election alongside Yiaga Africa observers, highlighted the political stability inherent in Ghana’s democracy, the resilience of its party structures, and the loyalty of its voters. He commended the consistency shown by key political figures, such as Akufo-Addo, who contested multiple elections before achieving success.
“Rarely in Ghana do you see people moving from one party to another during elections. This fosters political stability and builds enduring loyalty among supporters,” Yakubu noted.
He also praised Ghana’s decentralization of election result management, a practice inspired by Nigeria. Previously, all parliamentary and presidential election results were transmitted to the Electoral Commission’s headquarters in Accra for announcement. Under the revised system, parliamentary results are now announced locally at the constituency level, while only presidential results are sent to Accra.
“This is a lesson Ghana learned from Nigeria. In Nigeria, we have returning officers announcing results for parliamentary elections in various constituencies, while only presidential results are centralized. This change has significantly sped up Ghana’s result declaration process,” Yakubu explained.
Expressing his satisfaction with the electoral process, Yakubu remarked, “We are pleased with how well the election was conducted. The process and its outcomes are commendable, and we will continue to support our colleagues at Ghana’s Electoral Commission.”
