Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy

Electoral campaigns

In the run up to the elections, incidental eruptions of violence occurred during the primaries and some irregularities were observed during the voter registration process. The electoral campaigns became increasingly heated with the largest opposition party NDC (now the ruling party) threatening not to accept electoral defeat. Based on these indications some commentators feared a potentially violent scenario. Hence the focus of NIMD's Ghana programme on achieving peaceful, free and fair elections and a smooth transition of power.
 

Voter turn-out

On 7 December, 8,254,000 Ghanaians went to the polls to elect a new president and 230 parliamentarians. Despite long queues and materials arriving late at some polling stations, the voting proceeded peacefully, with a voter turn out of 69,5%.

The results of the Parliamentary Elections have been coined the “fall of the mighty” with many popular and long-serving MPs having to leave the scene. NPP suffered most casualties with a drop from 126 to 107 seats. NDC increased its number of seats from 96 to 114. CPP’s promising campaign did not yield any gains with a reduction of its seats from 3 to 1. Also PNC dropped two seats, remaining with just two. The first round of the Presidential Elections did not generate the required 50%. As a result, a run off was held on 28 December between Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of NPP and John Evans Atta Mills of NDC. Following a delayed voting in the Tain constituency, Mr Mills was declared winner on 3 January, with 50,23% of the votes.

NDC has thus control over both the executive and legislative arms of government. Its majority in the house is however not absolute, which may help foster consensus building amongst MPs. Another noteworty development is that for the first time in Ghana’s political history, there is a female Speaker of Parliament.

Presidential Bill

To avoid the rancorous transition that resulted in deep seated animosity between the two main parties in 2000, the caucus of Party Presidents and Secretary Generals platform supported by the Ghana programme have developed guidelines for handling the transfer of power. This resulted in a Presidential Transition Bill, which was launched on 17 December. The Bill, even though still a draft, already proved its worth as it was used to guide the transfer of power from NPP to NDC following the elections.