Ghana’s ruling party candidate concedes presidential election to his opposition rival

ACCRA – Ghana’s vp and ruling celebration candidate, Mahamudu Bawumia, conceded defeat Sunday to opposition candidate and former President John Dramani Mahama within the West African nation’s tightly contested presidential election.

Forward of the official announcement, Bawumia instructed reporters that he respects the choice of Ghanaians to vote for change. “I’ve simply known as His Excellency John Mahama to congratulate him as president-elect of the Republic of Ghana,” he mentioned.

Celebrations broke out in elements of the nation together with the capital, Accra.

The election was held in opposition to the backdrop of the nation’s worst cost-of-living disaster in a technology and seen as a litmus check for democracy in a region shaken by extremist violence and coups.

Bawumia was working because the flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Social gathering, or NPP, which has struggled to resolve the financial disaster below outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo.

Mahama’s win is considered following the most recent pattern of elections around the globe, favoring opposition events in opposition to incumbents, from the USA to European nations — reminiscent of Britain and France — in addition to South Africa.

Mahama, 65, was president of Ghana between July 2012 and January 2017.

Throughout his marketing campaign, Mahama promised to “reset” the nation on varied fronts and tried to enchantment to younger Ghanaians who noticed the vote as a way out of the country’s economic crisis.

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Asadu reported from Abuja, Nigeria