Unlike Nigeria, Ghanaian politicians don’t change political party every general election – INEC Chairman

• He extolled the political ideals in the West African nation that foster loyalty to political parties and abhor cross-carpeting among politicians mostly for selfish reasons

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has stated that the practice of defecting from one party to another at whim is a thing of rarity in Ghanaian politics.

He extolled the political ideals in the West African nation that foster loyalty to political parties and abhor cross-carpeting among politicians mostly for selfish reasons.

He stated that politicians rarely defect to another party every general election — a practice that is common in Nigeria.

Yakubu also hailed Ghana’s electoral process, especially its innovations and political stability as key factors in the smooth conduct of its 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.

Within Nigeria reports that Ghana’s ex-president, John Dramani Mahama, won the country’s presidential election held on Saturday after his main opponent, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), conceded defeat.

Briefing newsmen at his residence, Bawumia said Mahama’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) also won the parliamentary election.
The VP confirmed that he had called his opponent, Mahama, to congratulate him.

“The people of Ghana have spoken and they have voted for change at this time. We respect this with all humility,” Bawumia said.

The defeat in Saturday’s election ends two terms in power for the governing party under Nana Akufo-Addo, marked by Ghana’s worst economic crisis in years, involving high inflation and a debt default.

Prof Yakubu, who monitored the election, alongside Yiaga Africa observers and spoke in a short video, noted the political stability inherent in Ghana’s democracy, and the consistency of its political party structures and voter loyalty.