The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has praised President Akufo-Addo for overseeing Ghana’s peaceful and credible 2024 elections.

ECOWAS Chairman, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, hailed President Akufo-Addo’s dedication to democratic values and national stability, describing the election as a reflection of Ghana’s commitment to good governance.

“I congratulate President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the people of Ghana for the successful election and urge all of us in the region to learn from this good democratic practice and prioritise our country’s national unity to ensure the political stability of the region.”

During the final ECOWAS summit of 2024 held in Abuja, Nigeria, Tinubu highlighted Ghana’s electoral process as a model for other West African countries, encouraging leaders in the region to prioritize national unity and political stability.

He congratulated President Akufo-Addo and the citizens of Ghana for upholding democratic ideals and ensuring a smooth electoral process. ECOWAS observers who monitored the elections commended the fairness, transparency, and peaceful conduct of the polls.

The successful outcome has reinforced Ghana’s reputation as a beacon of democracy in West Africa, setting a positive example for neighboring nations working to strengthen their electoral systems.

John Dramani Mahama is now set to return as President on January 7, 2025, after defeating Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia in the elections. Official results from the Electoral Commission show Mahama secured 56% of the votes, while Bawumia received 41%.

This result ends the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) eight-year rule under Akufo-Addo, whose administration faced significant economic challenges, including a debt crisis and IMF intervention.

The peaceful elections and transition of power are seen as a major step toward fostering regional cooperation and encouraging other ECOWAS countries to deepen their democratic practices.