General election, 7 December 2024

Ghana conducted presidential and parliamentary elections (for all 276 seats) on 7 December 2024. (International IDEA 2024). Both the president and parliament are elected every four years via a two-round system: if no candidate receives 50 per cent plus one vote, then a second round is held. There is a two-term limit on the presidency (Electoral Commission n.d.). The Electoral Commission of Ghana manages the elections and has a reputation for ‘professionalism, independence, and integrity [through] transparency and consistent communications with all parties’ (Africa Center for Strategic Studies 2024). Under Ghanaian law the Commission is appointed on the advice of the Council of the State (Electoral Commission n.d.), a partially elected body of prominent citizens. 

In September 2024, mass protests broke out over electoral transparency and discrepancies in voter registration in different parts of the country (Sapp 2024). The main opposition candidate, John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party alleged unauthorized transfers of registrations, voters unable to locate their registration, and the continued registration of 50,000 deceased voters. The NDC further called for an external audit of all voter registration before the election. The incumbent National Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Electoral Commission rejected the claims as “baseless” (Mensah 2024).  

Despite the commitment from both leading candidates to a peaceful and democratic process­­—by signing a “peace pact” on 29 November—pockets of pre- and post-election violence still occurred (Naadi and Rukanga 2024). Around 100 people were arrested during clashes between supporters of the two parties. There were also reports of six deaths in connection with electoral violence (Teye Agbove 2025 ; CODEO/CDD/WANEP 2024). EU-supported domestic observer committed to seeking justice for victims and collated a report of 76 incidents, including attacks on election materials and in at least two cases, arson against polling station (CODEO/CDD/WANEP 2024).

Commonwealth election observers commended parties for signing the peace page, polling officials for their professionalism, and a range of organisations that collaborated on civic education, media training and gender mainstreaming efforts (Commonwealth 2024). The African Union EOM stated that the elections “adhered to regional and international standards, reinforcing Ghana’s democratic credentials”; the Economic Community of West African States EOM stated the polls were largely peaceful and complied with national and regional frameworks “to a significant extent” (Xinhua/GNA 2024).

Voter turnout decreased from 79 per cent in 2020 to 64 per cent in 2024. Former president (2012–2016) John Dramani Mahama of the NDC received 56.4 per cent of the vote to secure a first-round victory against serving Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia on  41.8 per cent (International IDEA 2024). Bawumia swiftly conceded defeat in order to ease tensions (DW 2024). Ghana elected its first female vice president, Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang.

In the parliamentary elections, 801 candidates competed for 276 seats, with women making up only 15 per cent of the contenders. After the election, women accounted for just 15 per cent of MPs, falling below the West African average of 18 per cent. The region shows stark contrasts, with countries like Senegal achieving 46 per cent female representation through quotas, while Nigeria lags at just 4 per cent. Ghana’s first-past-the-post (FPTP) system, which favors financial influence and entrenched networks, continues to pose barriers for women entering politics (The Conversation 2024).

Gender-based violence in Ghanaian politics remains pervasive. A 2024 survey found that 95 per cent of candidates faced degrading remarks, false rumors, and other forms of political violence (Bauer & Darkwah 2024). Women and LGBTQIA+ individuals are particularly vulnerable, experiencing verbal (72 per cent), emotional/psychological (41 per cent), sexual (29 per cent), and physical (14 per cent) violence (Bob-Milliar & Madsen 2024). Reports from the recent election also highlighted incidents of women voters being harassed and intimidated at polling stations, including UDS Nyankpala in the Tolon constituency (Donkor 2024).