Obama congratulates Mahama, urges all parties to accept vote results
President Barack Obama on behalf of US citizens has congratulated John Mahama and the people of Ghana for successfully holding its sixth general elections on December 7, 2012.
A White House press statement issued by his Press Secretary said “The United States congratulates President John Dramani Mahama and the people of Ghana for the successful election on December 7.”
According to the statement, the 2012 election “further demonstrates the people of Ghana’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law.”
The US encouraged “all parties to accept the results and to use the appropriate legal processes to resolve any electoral disputes.”
The 2012 elections is Ghana’s sixth presidential and parliamentary election since 1992 and according to the Electoral Commission total valid votes cast was 10,995,262, and 251,720 votes were rejected. The voter turnout was 79.43%.
John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) received 5, 574,761 votes, or 50.70%. Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has 5, 248 898 of the votes or 47.74%, followed by Dr. Papa Kwedi Nduom of the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) with 38, 223 votes – that is 0.59%.
Henry Herbert Lartey of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) has 38,223 votes or 0.35% of valid votes cast, Hassan Ayariga of the Peoples National Convention (PNC) has 24,617 or 0.22% of valid votes cast. Dr. Abu Sakara of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) has 20, 323 votes making 0.18% of valid votes cast.
The Independent candidate, Jacob Osei Yeboah has 15,201 or 0.14% of valid votes cast and Kwasi Oddai Odike of the United Front Party (UFP) has 8,877 of valid votes cast which is 0.08%.
The US says it looks “forward to strengthening our bonds by working with President Mahama and the people of Ghana to ensure prosperity, peace, and further democratic development of Ghana and the region.”
By Ekow Quandzie