The Head of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission, Dr. Namadi Sambo, has commended Ghanaians for their commitment to democracy following the peaceful conduct of the country’s presidential election on Saturday.
The EXPLAINER reports that the ruling New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) candidate, Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, conceded defeat to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, former President John Mahama, even as official results are awaited.
“These elections represent a landmark moment in Ghana’s democratic journey, characterised by remarkable voter turnout, a predominantly peaceful process, and the political maturity of its participants,” Dr. Sambo said at a meeting of Heads of International Election Observation Missions in Accra on Sunday.
Dr. Sambo praised Vice-President Bawumia’s concession, describing it as a demonstration of statesmanship and an affirmation of Ghana’s democratic resilience
“The decision by the NPP candidate to accept the election results further underscores the strength of the nation’s democratic institutions and its enduring commitment to upholding electoral integrity,” he added.
The Head of Mission also lauded Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC) and other stakeholders for their professionalism in managing the electoral process.
While acknowledging the peaceful nature of the election, Dr. Sambo highlighted the importance of addressing challenges identified by observer groups, such as isolated security incidents and procedural lapses.
“As we await the EC’s final declaration of results, the post-election phase offers an opportunity for reflection and improvement. ECOWAS remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting Ghana as it addresses these challenges and strengthens its electoral processes,” he said.
Other election observation leaders, including former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde, former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi, and former Nigerian President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, echoed similar sentiments.
They commended Ghana’s peaceful elections, while urging collective efforts to tackle identified challenges and reinforce democratic practices in the region.
In a related development, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, congratulated former President Mahama on his victory and praised Vice-President Bawumia’s timely concession, describing it as a testament to his statesmanship and patriotism.
Meanwhile,ECOWAS deployed 120 long- and short-term observers across Ghana’s 16 regions and 216 districts to monitor the elections.
The mission, led by Ambassador Baboucarr Blaise Jagne and supported by a technical team, had also conducted a pre-election fact-finding mission in July to assess Ghana’s preparedness for the polls.
Despite one reported violent incident that resulted in the loss of life in northern Ghana, the elections were widely regarded as peaceful, further cementing Ghana’s reputation as a model of democratic stability in the region.
