Ghanaian general election, 2012

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Ghanaian general election, 2012

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  John Dramani Mahama 2014 (cropped).jpg Nana Akufo-Addo at European Development Days 2017.jpg
Nominee John Mahama Nana Akufo-Addo
Party NDC NPP
Popular vote5,574,7615,248,898
Percentage50.7%47.7%

2012 Ghanaian General Election Map.png

2012 General election results map by region.
   NDC

   NPP
President before election

John Dramani Mahama
NDC

President-elect

John Dramani Mahama
NDC

Ghana
Coat of arms of Ghana.svg
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Ghana
Constitution

General elections were held in Ghana on Friday 7 December 2012 to elect a president and members of Parliament in 275 electoral constituencies. [1] Owing to the breakdown of some biometric verification machines, some voters could not vote, and voting was extended to Saturday 8 December 2012. [2] A run-off was scheduled for 28 December 2012 if no presidential candidate received an absolute majority of 50% plus one vote. Competing for presidency were incumbent president John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), his main challenger Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and six other candidates. [3]

Two-round system voting system used to elect a single winner where a second round of voting is used if no candidate wins an absolute majority in the first round

The two-round system is a voting method used to elect a single winner, where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate. However, if no candidate receives the required number of votes, then those candidates having less than a certain proportion of the votes, or all but the two candidates receiving the most votes, are eliminated, and a second round of voting is held.

National Democratic Congress (Ghana) political party in Ghana

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is a social democratic political party in Ghana, founded by Jerry Rawlings, who was Head of State of Ghana from 1981 to 1993 and the President of Ghana from 1993 to 2001. Following the formation of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) which ruled Ghana following the military coup d'état on 31 December 1981, there was pressure from the international community to restore democracy. The NDC was formed as the ruling party ahead of elections in 1992, in which Rawlings was elected president, and in 1996 Rawlings as re-elected as the NDC candidate. Rawlings' second term ended in 2001. The NDC lost the presidency in the 2000 election, and it was not until the 2008 election that they regained it with candidate John Atta Mills.

Nana Akufo-Addo President of Ghana

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is currently the President of Ghana. He has been in office since January 2017. He previously served as Attorney General from 2001 to 2003 and as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2003 to 2007 under the Kuffuor led administration.

Contents

Incumbent president John Mahama was declared winner of the presidential contest with 50.7% of the vote, just a few thousand votes over the threshold for avoiding a run-off election. Nana Akufo-Addo received 47.74%. [4] The opposition alleged tampering with results by the Electoral Commission (EC), [5] and filed a petition at the Ghanaian Supreme Court to review the election results. The NPP produced more than 11,000 so-called "pink sheets" to the judges who had to compare them to similar papers from the EC, NDC and possibly other parties. These pink sheets state the results as counted in single polling stations, before aggregating them to any higher level, such as municipality, district and region. The NPP claimed that there were differences between the results as stated immediately after their counting in polling stations, and those which were used in aggregations, and that this can be proven by the pink sheets. In a separate part of the procedure, the EC was challenged to prove that 14,000 expat Ghanaians had voted abroad, and failed to produce any registered voters in foreign countries due to, so EC, the fatal work of a virus in its computer.

Electoral Commission of Ghana

The Electoral Commission of Ghana is the official body in Ghana responsible for all public elections. Made up of seven members, its independence is guaranteed by the 1992 Ghana constitution. The current commission was established by the Electoral Commission Act of 1993. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan was the first substantive Chairman of the Commission from 1993-2015. In December 5,2018 the Electoral commission chaired by Jean Adukwei Mensah reverted to the old logo Eagles with coat of arms after the controversy over the new logo

Mahama was re-elected after less than five months as president having succeeded John Atta Mills who died suddenly in office in July 2012. [6]

John Atta Mills sixth President of the Republic of Ghana

John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills was a Ghanaian politician and legal scholar who served as President of Ghana from 2009 to 2012. He was inaugurated on 7 January 2009, having defeated the ruling party candidate Nana Akufo-Addo in the 2008 election. Previously he was Vice-President from 1997 to 2001 under President Jerry Rawlings, and he stood unsuccessfully in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections as the candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). He is the first Ghanaian head of state to die in office.

Preparations

Biometric voters registration

The Electoral Commission of Ghana successfully held a biometric system of registration for the electorate from 24 March 2012 to 5 May 2012. The move was aimed to prevent double registration and to eliminate ghost names in the old register. [7] [8] [9]

Biometrics metrics related to human characteristics

Biometrics is the technical term for body measurements and calculations. It refers to metrics related to human characteristics. Biometrics authentication is used in computer science as a form of identification and access control. It is also used to identify individuals in groups that are under surveillance.

Electoral demarcations

Controversially, 45 additional constituencies were added to the 230 of the 2008 general election. [10] Voting therefore took place in a total of 275 constituencies and 26002 polling stations.

Monitoring

The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) trained election observers and deployed 4000 of them to monitor the elections nationwide. [11] [12]

Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO) is an independent and non-partisan organisation made up of civil society groups, faith-based organizations and professional organisations which observe elections in Ghana.

Observers from ECOWAS Observer Mission led by former Nigerian president, General Olusegun Obasanjo also monitored the elections. The mission noted the technical glitches caused by faulty biometric machines but added that it had not undermined the fairness and transparency of the election. [13]

Pre-election controversy

There have been accusations against the media for not covering the election in a fair manner after a media have projected that the main opposition. [14]

Following the death of incumbent President John Atta Mills amid concerns for the election, leader of the Electoral Commission of Ghana Kwadwo Afari-Gyan said that "the election calendar remains unchanged—it's purely a party matter" and the National Democratic Congress had to decide who to nominate as its new candidate. [6]

The main talking point following the close of nominations was the disqualification of Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, leader of the newly formed National Democratic Party. This was due to errors in the documentation presented to the Electoral Commission. [15]

Presidential candidates

Eight candidates were on the ballot. [3]

PartyCandidate NameReligionDate of BirthHometown and RegionHighest Educational QualificationInstitutionPresent or Last EmployerPositionProfessionMarital Status
People's National Convention Hassan Ayariga Muslim4 September 1972 Bawku, Upper East Region Ex. Masters in Governance and LeadershipGraduate School of Governance and LeadershipClean Up GhanaManaging DirectorAccountancyMarried
National Democratic Congress John Dramani Mahama Christian29 November 1958 Bole, Northern Region Post Graduate Degree University of Ghana Government of GhanaPresident of the Republic of GhanaCommunications/MediaMarried
Progressive People's Party Papa Kwesi Nduom Catholic15 February 1953 Elmina, Central Region PHD University of Wisconsin First National Savings and Loans CompanyCEOManagement ConsultantMarried
New Patriotic Party Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Christian29 March 1944 Kyebi, Eastern Region Bsc. Econ University of Ghana Government of GhanaMinister for Foreign AffairsLegal PractitionerMarried
Convention People's Party Michael Abu Sakara Foster Christian15 August 1958 Mankuna, Northern Region Doctor of Philosophy University of Reading UnknownExecutive DirectorAgronomistMarried
United Front Party Akwasi Addai Odike Christian13 September 1964 Adwumakase Kese, Ashanti Region 'O' Level Aduman Secondary School Odike VenturesCEOBusinessmanMarried
Independent Candidate Jacob Osei Yeboah Christian28 October 1968 Atonsu, Nsuta, Ashanti Region MBA University of Warwick Vital Source LimitedDirector for West AfricaEngineering ConsultantMarried
Great Consolidated Popular Party Henry Herbert Lartey Christian5 February 1954 Osu, Greater Accra Region MBA Economics and Finance University of Bath UnknownExecutive DirectorFinance, Agriculture And International TradeSingle

Running mates

The following eight candidates have been approved by their parties and the Electoral Commission of Ghana as running mates of the above listed presidential candidates for the election on 7 December 2012. [16]

PartyCandidate NameSexProfession
People's National Convention Helen Sanorita Dzatugbe Matrevi FBilingual Translator
National Democratic Congress Kwesi Amissah-Arthur M Economist
Progressive People's Party Eva Lokko F CEO
New Patriotic Party Mahamudu Bawumia M Economist
Convention People's Party Nana Akosua Frimpomaa FSocial Activist
United Front Party Fred Osei Agyen MAgriculturist
Independent Candidate Kelvin Nii Tackie M Business Executive
Great Consolidated Popular Party John Amekah MRetired Educationist

Results

President

CandidatePartyVotes%
John Dramani Mahama National Democratic Congress 5,574,76150.70
Nana Akufo-Addo New Patriotic Party 5,248,89847.74
Paa Kwesi Nduom Progressive People's Party 64,3620.59
Henry Herbert Lartey Great Consolidated Popular Party 38,2230.35
Ayariga Hassan People's National Convention 24,6170.22
Michael Abu Sakara Foster Convention People's Party 20,3230.18
Jacob Osei YeboahIndependent15,2010.14
Akwasi Addai Odike United Front Party 8,8770.08
Invalid/blank votes251,720–
Total11,246,982100
Registered voters/turnout14,158,89079.43
Source: Electoral Commission of Ghana

Parliament

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
New Patriotic Party 5,248,86247.51123+16
National Democratic Congress 5,127,67146.41148+32
Progressive People's Party 182,6491.6500
Convention People's Party 81,0090.7310
People's National Convention 72,6180.661–1
National Democratic Party 33,8570.3100
Inter-Party Cooperation15,5610.1400
United Front Party 3,3220.0300
Democratic People's Party 3,0130.0300
New Vision Party 1,2320.0100
United Renaissance Party8400.0100
Independent People's Party 6790.0100
Great Consolidated Popular Party 6530.0100
Yes People's Party1450.0000
United Renaissance Party1400.0000
Ghana Freedom Party770.0000
Independents275,7812.503–1
Invalid/blank votes178,243–––
Total11,226,352100275+45
Registered voters/turnout15,031,68080.01––
Source: Electoral Commission of Ghana

Reaction

The non-partisan Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) all declared that the elections were, for the most part, free and fair. [17] Despite this, there were still widespread allegations of voting irregularities, though these were dismissed as unsubstantiated by the electoral commission chairman. As a result of these claims, the New Patriotic Party immediately rejected the results upon their release [17] and its candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, remarked that his party's leaders would be meeting on 11 December to consider their options, one of which is to contest the results by lodging an appeal in court. [18] Violent opposition was however ruled out. [17]

African Union commission chairman Thomas Yayi flew to Ghana to meet with the two men. [17] He was also reported to have congratulated Mahama on his victory, and charged him to preside over an all-inclusive government. [19] Yayi praised the conduct and the participants of the election. [19]

In anticipation of petitions regarding the election, Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood has established two public complaints secretariats to swiftly process such concerns. [20]

In a statement after being declared the victor, Mahama gave a reconciliatory message, saying "I wish to welcome my fellow candidates to join me now as partners in the project of nation building and of creating a better Ghana.” [21]

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. ↑ "Regional Distribution of 275 Constituencies". Electoral Commission of Ghana. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  2. ↑ "Ghana election: Voting enters second day". BBC. 8 December 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  3. 1 2 "Profile of 2012 Presidential Candidates". Official website. Electoral Commission of Ghana. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  4. ↑ "Ghana election: John Mahama declared winner". BBC News. 10 December 2012.
  5. ↑ "Ghana's Mahama wins election, opposition cries foul". Reuters. 9 December 2012.
  6. 1 2 "Ghana swears in Mahama as new president". Al Jazeera. 25 July 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  7. ↑ "Pre-election in Ghana". Ajazeera. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  8. ↑ "Compilation of Biometric Register Begins March 24". General news. Ghana Home Page. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  9. ↑ "Ghana Think". Ghana Think. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  10. ↑ "Controversy Over the Creation OF 45 New Constituencies". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  11. ↑ "CODEO to deploy observers for 2012 elections". Ghana Business News. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  12. ↑ "CODEO Ready To Observe Election 2012". Ghana Web. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  13. ↑ "Electoral Challenges Has Not Undermined Election Process—Obasanjo Observes". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  14. ↑ "Ghana: John Mahama declared election winner". The Daily Telegraph. London. 9 December 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  15. ↑ "Nana Konadu's Presidential dream crashed". General news. Ghana Home Page. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  16. ↑ "Profile of 2012 Presidential Candidates". Official website. Electoral Commission of Ghana. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "Ghana election: NPP considers challenge to John Mahama win". BBC News. 10 December 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  18. ↑ Felix, Bate (10 December 2012). "Ghana opposition contender might challenge election results". Reuters. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  19. 1 2 Essel, Issac (10 December 2012). "Update: AU chairman to meet Nana Akufo-Addo, after meeting Mahama". Joy Online. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  20. ↑ "Ghana's Judiciary sets up complaint secretariats for post elections petitions". Ghana Business News. 10 December 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  21. ↑ "Leave behind era of pettiness, intolerance and negativity – Mahama urges". Ghana Web. 10 December 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
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