Bishops praise ‘maturity’ of Ghanaian election

“Democracy in our country is a gift and we must continue to respect and preserve it,” a statement from Ghana’s Catholic bishops said.

Catholic leaders in Ghana welcomed both the conduct and outcome of the presidential election on 7 December, saying it was a sign of democratic maturity.

The victor was the opposition candidate John Mahama, a former President of Ghana, becoming the fifth opposition figure to come to power in Africa this year. He defeated Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), who conceded defeat even before the final results were proclaimed.

In a message on 9 December, the Ghanaian bishops praised the various participants in the election, including the political parties, the electoral commission, the press as well as the voters for their commitment to the core values of democracy.

“Democracy in our country is a gift and we must continue to respect and preserve it,” the statement said.

“We commend the Electoral Commission for carrying out a generally successful election,” it added, and urged the commission “to continue building trust by upholding the highest standards of transparency and impartiality”.

John Mahama succeeds President Nana Akufo-Addo who has reached the official limit of two terms in office.  The President-elect promised “a new beginning for Ghana”, saying he would transform the West African country into “a 24-hour economy”.

Mr Mahama has vowed to “reset the economy” that has been in a downward spiral under Akufo-Addo. He has also pledged to take a harder stance against corruption, although his first term as president (from July 2012 and January 2017) was also marked by economic hardship and widespread corruption.

The bishops have urged the newly-elected political leaders “to prioritise the common good above partisan interests and to promote policies that address the challenges facing the most vulnerable among us, particularly the poor and marginalised”.

John Mahama will be installed with his vice president Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang – the first woman to hold the office in Ghana’s history – on 7 January 2025.

Separately, a police chief has assured Bishop Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi of Sunyani, president of the Ghanaian bishops’ conference, that an attack last week on three Indian Capuchins in Nkwanta, eastern Volta region, would be fully investigated and those responsible brought to justice.

The Capuchins were beaten by an angry crowd after being accused of stealing a bulldozer they had rented to clear land for building a new formation house.

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