On December 7, Ghana held its presidential and parliamentary elections as mandated by the 1992 Constitution, which requires national elections to be conducted every four years. While Ghana is constitutionally a multi-party state, its political landscape has long been dominated by two parties: the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Power has traditionally alternated between these parties, with each typically serving two consecutive terms.

Since the adoption of the 1992 Constitution, Ghana has followed this pattern: the NDC governed from 1993 to 2001 under Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, followed by the NPP from 2001 to 2009 under John Agyekum Kufuor. The NDC then returned to power from 2009 to 2017, led by Professor John Evans Atta Mills and later John Dramani Mahama. The NPP regained control in 2017 under Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and has governed for the past eight years.

The 2024 elections, however, delivered a significant shift in Ghana’s political narrative. The NPP, led by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the flagbearer, ran a high-profile campaign under the slogan “Breaking the 8,” aiming to extend their hold on power beyond the usual eight-year cycle. However, their hopes were dashed when Dr. Bawumia conceded defeat on December 8, a day before the Electoral Commission’s official declaration. In his concession speech, Dr. Bawumia admitted:

“The data from our own internal collation of the election results indicates that former president, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, has won the presidential election decisively. The NDC has also won the parliamentary election, even though we await final collation for a number of seats. However, I believe these will not change the overall outcome.”

The Electoral Commission (EC) declared the results on December 9, representing the collated results of 267 constituencies out of 276 constituencies. The EC chair stated that this is so because the office of the commission in the remaining nine constituencies has been besieged by political party supporters, making it impossible to complete the coalition process. The chair then declared the flagbearer of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama as the president-elect of the Republic of Ghana with a percentage of 56.55 percent of the total votes turn out of the 267 constituencies. The chair justified that even if the votes turn out of the remaining nine constituencies goes out of the favour of the flagbearer of the NDC, He will obtain 52.13 percent which still makes him the president-elect.

Additionally, the NDC secured a historic parliamentary majority with 188 seats, marking a net gain of 51 seats, including nine traditionally held by the NPP.

This outcome has been described as a “protest vote,” reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with the NPP’s governance, particularly regarding economic challenges.

In exclusive interviews with JURIST, Ghanaian law students and activists provided their perspectives on the election results and what they signify for the country’s democracy.

Anwar-Sadat Rafiu, an SDG4 activist, highlighted the role of Ghana’s youth in rejecting the incumbent government despite alleged vote-buying efforts. He emphasized that voters prioritized pressing economic issues over the NPP’s past achievements. “The youth have become more discerning” he stated.

Abeku Adams, a final-year law student at the University of Cape Coast and member of the Economic Fighters League, viewed the election as a referendum on the NPP’s handling of the economy. “The outcome is a protest vote by the people of Ghana,” he said. He pointed to the NPP’s flagship Free Senior High School policy, which benefited millions but failed to translate into electoral support, as evidence of growing public frustration. He added that movements like #FixTheCountry and #OccupyJulorbiHouse reflected public discontent and set the stage for the NDC’s victory. “I did not vote the NDC because of any policy. It gets to a point where change becomes a do-or-die for the people and Mr. Akufo-Addo benefited from that in 2016.” Abeku added.

Ishmael Abraham, a political science student at the University of Education, Winneba, discussed the NPP’s surprising losses in its traditional strongholds, such as the Western Region. “The NPP has always dominated constituencies like Essikado-Ketan, Sekondi, and Takoradi, but this time they lost two of these safe seats. It sends a strong signal that constituents needed them out.”  Ishmael said that most of the youths voted for the NDC not because they are party loyalists but on a failure of the incumbent party to give them a listening ear.

Samuel Ampofo, a Ghana School of Law student, described the NPP’s defeat as a rejection of the status quo. “The past four years have been excruciatingly frustrating for the average Ghanaian,” he said. He argued that the election results reflect a shift toward issue-based voting and away from blind party loyalty. Samuel also noted the rise of “fleeting voters”— individuals who prioritize performance over entrenched party ideologies.

While the NDC’s victory reflects public demand for change, several interviewees expressed hope for greater political diversity in Ghana’s future. Samuel stated, “I hope to see a Ghana that shall one day vote without recourse to the almost never-ending ‘two-horse race’ we witness every four years.” Samuel added that the results serve as a wake-up call for smaller parties to challenge the dominance of the NPP and NDC.

The 2024 elections underscore the maturing of Ghana’s democracy, where voters are increasingly using their ballots to demand accountability and progress. The outcome not only marks a political shift but also signals the growing power of citizens and issue-based voting in shaping the country’s future.