Ghana’s ‘caretaker’ president John Dramani Mahama has won his first full four-year term in an closely-contested vote. The leader of the centre-left National Democratic Congress (NDC), who became President in July following the death of John Atta Mills, won 50.7 per cent of the vote in the election on 7 December. The NDC also increased its representation in parliament, and is projected to win an absolute majority in the 275-seat assembly. The Observer Mission from Ecowas (the Economic Community of West African States), led by a former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, described the electoral process as generally free, fair and peaceful. Ghana was described as being ’the vanguard of democracy’. However, the centre-right opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) alleged that the election was fraudulent and indicated that it will contest the polls in court.
John Dramani Mahama took 50.7 per cent of the vote in the presidential election, defeating the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, who polled 47.7 per cent. A string of other candidates polled less than one per cent. The result means that there is no need for a run-off. In the parliamentary elections, the latest figures put President Mahama’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) on 120 seats, with the NPP on 95 seats. With 57 seats still undeclared, there is a strong chance that the NDC will win an absolute majority in parliament.
The new president is seen as an eloquent champion of the underprivileged and is a popular figure across party lines. He has been described as ‘gentle and peace-loving’. These qualities, coupled with his background and his consistent and passionate call for politics of decency have put him in the spotlight as somebody with great strength of character. Nana Akufo-Addo has been described as charismatic, eloquent, firm and confident. However, he has also been described as aggressive and arrogant by Ghanaian and international observers.
Ghana, one of the world fastest-growing economies, is regarded as Africa’s most stable democracy. Mr Mahama’s victory is not likely to lead to any significant policy changes locally or internationally. He is expected to continue on the path of growth and prosperity. The President is also expected to consolidate the ‘Advancing a Better Ghana Agenda’ project begun by his predecessor, John Atta Mills. This project aims to create more jobs, deliver a programme of economic recovery and ensure the sustained welfare of the people of Ghana on the back of the discovery of oil in the country. However, the NPP thinks differently. In the run-up to the 2012 polls, the NPP launched a sharp assault on the NDC’s economic record, launching a manifesto entitled ‘Transforming our lives; transforming Ghana’. The NPP hailed Nana Akufo-Addo as a leader who could kickstart a stagnant economy. The NPP’s Chairman, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, set the tone at a press conference held after the burial of John Attah Mills. Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey described President Mahama and his VicePresident, K.B. Amissah-Authur, the former Governor of the Bank of Ghana, as “spare tyres” that needed to be changed. He added that “Mahama led the Economic Management Team with now Vice
President Ammissah-Authur in charge of the monetary policy as governor of the Bank of Ghana; the same team that failed to deliver on the most important thing in our lives, the economy, is the same team in charge now.” Ghana’s economy has witnessed major changes in the last couple of years. GDP has more than doubled in four years and last year oil contributed close to six per cent of the country’s GDP.
Despite a positive outlook for the Ghanaian economy, there are a number of challenges that could restrict growth and slow down the progress of poverty alleviation and development. While the economy has seen low and stable inflation, the cost of credit for small and medium size enterprises is still high. Another challenge is infrastructure, including energy supply which is still erratic, with businesses supplementing themselves what is provided by the national grid (thereby raising the cost of doing business and chipping away at the competiveness of the private sector). President Mahama has promised to increase power generation from 2,443MW to 5,000MW by 2016 and to launch an ‘Energy for All’ programme that aims to ensure universal access to electricity by 2016. After the fiercely-contested election, the President now has to focus on delivering his party’s programme on the economy, employment, the environment, health, education and utilities.
Ghana’s democratic credentials and its new oil resources have attracted foreign investors. President Mahama’s government, in the last quarter of this year, accepted US$465.5m in bids for its five-year bonds at an auction. The generally peaceful nature of the election has consolidated Ghana’s position as a beacon of democracy in West Africa. The country is expected to attract more inward investment from Western companies keen to take advantage of the stability and growth in the country, notably in sectors such as oil and gas, energy, infrastructure (roads, public housing and property development, rail transport and ports), agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and services (including ICT, financial services and education). Original text by Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa of InFocusPR, an affiliate of Arcay Burson-Marsteller Africa. infocuspr.org For further information, contact Robyn de Villiers, Founder and Chairman, Arcay Burson-Marsteller (robyn.dv@arcaybm.com) arcay.com