Ghana Election A Triumph For West African Democracy – Publisher
By Abubakar Ojima -Ojo Yunus
The Publisher of Summit Post Newspaper, Omonu Nelson, has described Ghana’s weekend presidential and parliamentary elections as a triumph for democracy in West Africa, urging the region to sustain the growing trend of peaceful transitions.
Speaking as a guest on Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Network news on Monday, Omonu praised the conduct and outcome of the election, in which Ghana’s Vice President and ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Mahamudu Bawumia, conceded defeat to opposition leader and former President John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) before final results were tallied.
“What began like a child’s play has become a golden moment for West Africa,” Omonu said.
He highlighted the significance of a ruling party candidate conceding defeat, calling it a testament to Ghana’s democratic maturity and a positive example for other nations.
The election result comes amid economic challenges in Ghana, but Nelson expressed optimism about the country’s democratic progress.
“Respecting the people’s right to choose their leader is crucial, and Ghana has demonstrated this understanding,” he added.
Nelson drew parallels to similar moments in West Africa, such as Nigeria’s 2015 election, when former President Goodluck Jonathan conceded to opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari, and Liberia’s 2023 election, where incumbent George Weah lost to Joseph Boakai.
“This growing trend of peaceful power transitions in Anglophone West Africa stands in stark contrast to Francophone nations, where democracy faces significant setbacks,” Nelson observed.
He noted that democracy’s inherent self-correcting mechanisms, including periodic elections, provide opportunities for citizens to hold leaders accountable.
“Let’s give the benefit of the doubt to Ghana’s President-elect Mahama. With his experience, he can turn the nation’s economic situation around,” Nelson said.
The peaceful resolution of Ghana’s election marks a hopeful milestone for the region’s democratic consolidation.