Mahama scores 98.9% victory
-To lead NDC for 4th time in presidential election
By Elvis DARKO, Accra
Former President John Dramani Mahama will contest his fourth presidential elections in 2024.
He first contested for the high in 2012 and won.
However, he failed in second and third elections in 2016 and 2020.
Former President Mahama who is eligible for another presidential term of four years has been elected by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) primaries to lead the party in the 2024 general elections.
He polled 297,603, representing 98.9% of votes cast to beat his only contender Kojo Bonsu, a former chief executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly who got 3,181 votes, representing 1.1%.
Dr Serebour Quaicoe, Director of Electoral Service at the Electoral Commission (EC), announced the results in the early hours of Sunday, at the Party’s headquarters, in Accra.
The third contestant, Former Finance Minister Dr Kwabena Duffuor, pulled out of the race on Friday May 12, citing his reservations over the Voter’s Register.
This was after he discontinued a court injunction petition that he filed over the matter.
Dr Quaicoe indicated that 305, 437 votes were cast in the presidential primaries. Valid votes were 300,784, whilst 4,653 votes were rejected.
Mr Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, NDC General Secretary, congratulated all the contestants in both the presidential and parliamentary primaries, and the delegates, for their efforts at ensuring successful and peaceful elections.
He also praised the Electoral Commission for its role in making the elections fair and transparent.
He gave the assurance that all stakeholders of the party will work towards a resounding victory in the 2024 General Election to unseat the ruling New Patriotic Party, after its eight year rule.
Chairman of the Party, Johnson Asiedu-Nketsia, praised the Ghana Police Service for doing an excellent job at providing security.
Kojo Bonsu concedes
Even before the EC officially confirmed the former President’s victory, Mr Kojo Bonsu, the former Metropolitan Chief Executive Officer of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, who contested the National Democratic Congress’ flagbearer race, has conceded to Former President Mahama.
In a statement, he said he had congratulated former President Mahama on winning the 2023 Flagbearer Race of the NDC.
“I saw our former President John Dramani Mahama and his team work so hard every day than never before to achieve this accomplishment, and I can’t think of anyone who deserves it more than him at this moment. You set an amazing example for the NDC.” Bonsu stated.
Brief Profile
President Mahama was Ghana’s Fourth President of the Fourth Republic.
He was born on November 29,1958 in Damango, which is located in the Northern Region of Ghana.
He is a communication expert, historian, writer, former Member of Parliament and Minister of State, and immediate former Vice-President of Ghana.
He ascended to the high office of Presidency following the death of the incumbent President John Evans Atta Mills on Tuesday, July 24 in Accra.
President Mahama’s father, Mr Emmanuel Adama Mahama was the first Member of Parliament for the West Gonja Constituency and the first Regional Commissioner of the Northern Region during Ghana’s First Republic.
After completing his education, President Mahama went on to pursue an additional postgraduate diploma in social psychology at the Institute of Social Sciences in Moscow, and returned to Ghana from 1991 to 1996.
He worked as the Information, Culture and Research Officer at the Embassy of Japan in Accra.
He moved on to work with PLAN International, Ghana as International Relations, Sponsorship Communications and Grants Manager.
An eloquent champion of the underprivileged, President Mahama was first elected to the Parliament of Ghana in 1996 to represent the Bole/Bamboi Constituency for a four-year term.
In April 1997, President Mahama was appointed Deputy Minister of Communications.
He rose to become the substantive Minister of Communications by November 1998; it was a position he held until January 2001 when the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which was the current ruling party, handed over power to the newly elected New Patriotic Party’s government.
In 2000, President Mahama was re-elected for another four-year term as the MP for the Bole/Bamboi Constituency.
He was again re-elected in 2004 for a third term. From 2001 to 2004, President Mahama served as the Minority Parliamentary Spokesman for
Communications and in 2002 he was appointed the Director of Communications for the NDC.
That same year, he served as a member of the team of international observers selected to monitor Zimbabwe’s Parliamentary Elections.
During his tenure as Minister of Communications, President Mahama also served as the Chairman of the National Communications Authority, in which capacity he played a key role in stabilizing Ghana’s telecommunications sector after it was deregulated in 1997.
President Mahama also served as a member of the National Economic Management Team, a founding member of the Ghana AIDS Commission, a member of the implementation committee of the 2000 National Population Census, and a deputy chairman of the Publicity Committee for the re-introduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT).
Continuing to expand his interest and involvement in international affairs, in 2003 President Mahama became a member of the Pan-African Parliament, serving as the Chairperson of the West African Caucus.
In 2005, he was additionally appointed the Minority Spokesman for Foreign Affairs.
He served in these capacities until 2008, when he was handpicked to become the vice presidential candidate.
President Mahama has seven children. He is married to Mrs. Lordina Mahama. Despite his often busy schedule, President Mahama makes it a point to devote time to his family, his faith and his hobbies.
He is a Christian, who believes in the importance of respect for and tolerance of, other faiths and forms of worship in a nation as diverse and peaceful as Ghana.
He has a keen interest in environmental affairs, particularly the problem of plastic pollution in
Africa, which he has committed himself to addressing during his tenure as Vice President.
President Mahama loves to read. He is also an avid writer and has had numerous articles published nationally and internationally.
His first book, My First Coup d’État and Other True Stories From the Lost Decades of Africa, was published by Bloomsbury on July 3, 2012.
INCUMBENT NDC MPs WHO LOST
1..Alex Adomako lost to a newcomer, Hajia Nasira Afrah (Sekyere Afram Plains)
2. Edward Bawa lost with 509 votes as Charles Bawaduah polled 535 votes (Bongo Constituency)
3. Wisdom Gidisu lost with 257 votes to Nelson Kofi Djabab, who had 441 votes (Krachie East)
4. Alhaji A. B. A. Fuseini had 330 votes and lost to Attah Issah who polled 801 votes (Sagnarigu constituency)
5. Abeiku Crentsil had 149 votes and lost to Dr. Ekow Kwainoo who had 329 votes (Ekumfi Constituency)
6. Dela Sowah had 281 votes and lost to Sebastian Fred Deh who had 332 votes (Kpando Constituency)
7. Dr Kwabena Donkor had 371 votes and lost to Emmanuel Boam who had 474 votes (Pru East)
8. Angela Alorwu-Tay polled 225 votes, losing to her contender, Frank Afriyie who won with 631 votes (Afadzato South)
9. Wisdom Kobena Woyome had 562 votes and lost to Maxwell Kwame Lukutor with 597 votes (South Tongu Constituency)
10. Thomas Addah Dalu also lost with 300 votes to a young businessman, Nikyema Alamzy who polled 488 votes (China-Paga)
11. Sampson Tangombu Chiragia also lost with 447 votes to Simon Akibange Aworigo, who won with 475 votes (Navrongo Central)
12. Augustine Tawiah polled 452 votes and lost to Mustapha Amadu Tanko who had 935 votes (Bia West Constituency)
13. Peter Yaw Kwakye Ackah had 575 votes and lost to Joana Gyan Cudjoe who had 756 votes (Amenfi Central)
14. Sophia Karen Edem Ackuaku (Domeabra-Obom MP but switched to Ayawaso Central)
15. Christian Otuteye (Sege Constituency)
16. Edward Kaale-Ewola Dery (Lambussie)
17. Albert Akuka Alalzuuga (Garu Constituency)
18. Aboagye Kwadwo Nyampong (Biakoye)
