By Vivian Amoah
The ECOWAS Election Observation Mission (EOM) has praised the peaceful and largely transparent conduct of Ghana’s 2024 General Elections, despite some isolated incidents.
In a preliminary declaration released at a press conference in Accra on Monday, 9th December 2024, the Mission noted that the elections largely adhered to national and regional standards, with the professionalism of polling staff and the effective presence of security forces ensuring a safe and orderly voting process.
Dr. Namadi Sambo, Head of the ECOWAS Mission and former Vice-President of Nigeria, highlighted the inclusivity of the elections, pointing out provisions made for voters with disabilities and the visually impaired, which enabled them to vote independently. He also acknowledged the isolated security incident in Nyankpala, Northern Ghana, where one person was killed and another injured, but stressed that it did not detract from the overall peaceful atmosphere.
The Mission commended the sportsmanship displayed by the presidential candidates, particularly Mahamudu Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who conceded defeat ahead of the official results, helping to ease post-election tensions. The EOM also congratulated President-elect John Dramani Mahama on his victory and praised outgoing President Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his leadership during his two terms in office, especially his contributions to regional integration and his service as ECOWAS Chair.
The EOM deployed 70 observer teams across 871 polling stations in 54 districts across all 16 regions of Ghana. Dr. Sambo’s comments were echoed by representatives from the African Union, the Commonwealth, and other international bodies, who also observed the elections.
The mission concluded by congratulating the people of Ghana for their peaceful participation and called for continued efforts to strengthen democracy across the region.
