Ghana's 2024 General Election: Lessons for Nigeria to Learn

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Ghana’s fourth republic, which began with the 1992 Constitution, had its ninth general election last Saturday, December 7, 2024. John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress was formally proclaimed the president-elect on Monday, December 9, by Mrs. Jean Mensa, the chairperson of the Ghanaian Electoral Commission. With 18,774,159 registered voters, the presidential election was contested by 12 of the 15 registered political parties and four independent candidates in 40,976 polling stations. The former president, Mahama, won by a landslide. According to Jean Mensa, the returning officer and chairperson of the EC, former president John Mahama received 6,328,397 votes, or 56.55% of the vote, while Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the vice president and presidential candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party, received 4,657,304 votes, or 41.61%.

The NPP candidate and Ghana’s outgoing vice president are notable. In a display of statesmanship, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia called John Mahama and his principal opponent to congratulate him and concede the victory on Sunday, December 8. Tension in the nation was reduced by that one action before the vote count was finished. It’s very model! Like Donald Trump, Mahama, the president of Ghana from 2012 to 2016, has triumphantly returned to the Jubilee House following a string of defeats to the departing president Nana Akufo Addo in 2016 and 2020. Another historic aspect of the just finished election is that Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Ghana’s first female vice president-elect, created history.

Last Monday, December 9, I appeared on the Nigerian Television Authority’s flagship breakfast show, “Good Morning Nigeria.” In 2008, I was an accredited observer on The Carter Centre’s platform, and I believe Nigeria can learn a few things from its West African Anglophone neighbour. Ghana, a country of approximately 34 million people with 16 administrative regions and 276 electoral seats, has a common past with Nigeria. In addition to being a former British colony, the country had periods of military control. Under Section 44 (2) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission is appointed on the same terms as a Justice of the Court of Appeals.

Nigeria and Ghana share several similarities, including being in their fourth republic and running multiparty democracy; also, although having a de jure multiparty system, they are both de facto two-party countries. In Nigeria, the two dominant political parties are the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party; in Ghana, the dominant political parties are the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress. Both countries are members of the Economic Community of West African States and long-standing trading allies; both have a presidential system of government with four-year terms and a maximum of two terms for executive positions. Both nations have now signed peace treaties ahead of presidential elections. Ghana’s voting age is 18, just like Nigeria’s.

Political parties in Ghana, like in Nigeria, do not receive any grants. They source their money internally without restriction, whereas international donations are prohibited. According to Section 55 (15) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, only a Ghanaian citizen may contribute or donate to a Ghana-registered political party. However, it is uncertain whether this clause is strictly enforced. Partygoers in Ghana purchase party mementos. I observed several of them wearing party flags, mufflers, handkerchiefs, T-shirts, and so on. The parties, in turn, give free transportation to party members who desire to travel to the location where they registered to vote.

Unlike Nigeria, Ghana allows for Independent Candidacy; voting hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the country is not under lockdown, as is the case with Nigeria. Ghana’s election day is December 7 of the election year, and the new president is sworn in on January 7 of the new year. This is extremely similar to the United States, where elections are held on the first Tuesday in November of each election year and inaugurations take place on January 20 of the following year. To win the presidential election in Ghana, a contender must receive 50+1 of the valid votes cast. That translates to an absolute majority of votes cast. To run in the presidential election, candidates must be Ghanaian, 40.

The Ghana election system allows for proxy voting as well as special or early voting. While voting by proxy allows one person to vote on behalf of another, special voting is reserved for Electoral Officials, Media Practitioners, and members of the Armed Forces who are expected to be on election duty. Early voting will take place on December 2. In the just-concluded elections, 1,291 voters voted via proxy, allowing someone else to vote for them. Ghana’s electoral system allows voters to vote by proxy if they are unwell, away of the country, or unable to participate on election day. However, a proxy voter can only vote for one individual.

Unlike Nigeria, Ghana has a unicameral legislature. Unlike

Truth be told, Ghana has a better political credentials than Nigeria and we can learn and borrow a number of useful ideas from our dear neighbour. Things like the civic political culture, provision for early voting, independent candidacy, robust political party management system, constitutionally backed date for elections, election of more women into executive and legislative positions, reduction of qualification age to run for State Houses of Assembly and Councillorship positions from 25 to 21, and more issue-based campaigns are some of the useful lessons we can learn from the land of the Black Stars. As the tenure of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as INEC chairman ends next year, President Bola Tinubu should scout for a virtuous woman to replace him. Ahead of 2027 presidential poll, APC and PDP should think along having female vice presidential candidates.