ACCRA, 30 December 2020 – Ghana’s opposition main candidate in the December 7 presidential ballot, John Mahama, has filed a petition to challenge the official outcome.
Incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo was re-elected for a second and last consecutive presidential term.
Madam 9left) & Akufo-Addo – Photo CitiNewsRoom
Akufo-Addo was declared winner with 51.59 percent of the votes cast while Mahama was credited with 47.37 percent of the votes cast.
The petition by Mahama, a former president, is asking Ghana’s Supreme Court to annul the vote and order a re-run.
The petition alleges electoral irregularities and argues that none of the candidates in the ballot secured a clear majority for the election to be determined in the first round of voting.
Lady Votes in Ghana – Photo Deutsche Welle
The NDC’s flag bearer has said he lost unfairly to the incumbent.
Following the 2012 presidential election in Ghana, won by Mahama, Mr. Akufo-Addo also petitioned the Supreme Court.
The court dismissed his petition but the matter dragged on for eight long months.
Under new rules, the hearing of the petition lodged by Mahama is expected to last for a period of 42 days.
Members of Ghana’s Supreme Court – Photo Modern Ghana
Both the ruling NPP and opposition NDC are also planning to challenge some parliamentary results.
An initial tally of all the seats confirmed a hung parliament.
