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Election Date: December 7, 2008

At stake: President, Parliament

Background

Ghana, the first black African nation to achieve independence, fell into political instability in 1966, when first president Kwane Nkrumah was deposed. In 1981, Jerry Rawlings took over after a coup, and tried to steer the country towards democratic and financial success.

In 1992, a new constitution was approved in a nationwide referendum, allowing for a multi-party system. In 1994 and 1995, a series of land disputes in the north escalated into ethnic violence. Around 1,000 people were killed and close to 150,000 more were displaced.

Following Rawlings’ retirement in 2000, John Agyekum Kufuor of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) won a run-off over John Evans Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) with 57.4 per cent of all cast ballots. The election marked the first truly democratic transfer of power since Ghana attained its independence in 1957.

Today, Ghana’s citizens have one of the lowest incomes in the world, despite the area’s abundance of mineral resources.

In 2002, Kufuor created a National Reconciliation Commission to investigate human rights abuses during the military rule.

In the 2004 election, Kufour won the presidency with 52.75 per cent of all cast ballots in the first round, and Atta Mills finished in second place with 44.32 per cent.

In the legislative ballot, the governing NPP secured 128 seats, followed by the NDC with 94, the Grand Coalition with four, the Convention People’s Party (CPP) with three, and one independent.

Kufuor was sworn in for his second term on Jan. 7, 2005. Alhaji Aliu Mahama retained his post as vice-president.

Click Here for Ghana’s 2004 Presidential and Legislative Elections Tracker

In 2007, Ghana celebrated 50 years of independence from foreign rule.

From January 2007 to January 2008, Kufuor served as chairman of the African Union (AU). Kufuor was a key mediator in the aftermath of a difficult presidential election in Kenya during his term as head of the AU.

Ghana’s population of 23.3 million is largely affected by a high HIV/AIDS incidence. The epidemic has lowered the life expectancy rate to 59 years.

2008 Presidential and Legislative Elections

President John Agyekum Kufuor of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), in office since 2001, is constitutionally impeded to run for a third consecutive term in office.

The upcoming ballot is being closely monitored by international observers and regional leaders who have described Ghana as the democratic hope and role model of western Africa. These will be the fifth multi-party elections in Ghana since the return of democracy.

The NPP’s presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is running a campaign based mostly on improving education services in Ghana. On Aug. 30, Akufo-Addo said during a rally: "Education is the key to the development of this country. In developed countries like North Korea and Malaysia, illiteracy has been eliminated so education must be the priority of every government."

Also in late August, Akufo-Addo called for a peaceful campaign, saying, "It is not right to shed blood because of the electoral process because Ghana is seen as the beacon of hope for the African continent towards its march for development."

John Evans Atta Mills—a law professor educated in Britain and the United States—is once again the candidate for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). The NDC was founded by former president and coup leader Jerry Rawlings in 1979.

On Aug. 27, Atta Mills accused the ruling NPP candidates of "not having anything to offer" to influence voters other than money, and urged citizens to reject "bribes" in exchange for their votes.

Paa Kwesi Nduom is the Convention People’s Party (CPP) presidential candidate. Nduom is also putting education at the forefront of his campaign. He has promised to build a number of standardized schools around the country, and to make education free and compulsory for everyone, from elementary school to high school, if elected.

On Sept. 8, Kufuor urged candidates to tone-down their electoral rhetoric, and stated that losing or winning an election "is not the end of the world."

Also on Sept. 8, Mohammed Ibn Chambas, a Ghanaian and executive secretary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), called for Ghana to hold clean and fair elections, saying, "This year we have had two unfortunate incidents in Kenya and in Zimbabwe. We need a happy story and I believe that Ghana has that possibility to give us a successful case of well conducted, properly conducted elections." Chambas added that he is concerned about recent episodes of political violence in the northern parts of the country.

Political Players

President: John Agyekum Kufuor - NPP
Vice-president: Alhaji Aliu Mahama - NPP

The president is elected to a four-year term by popular vote.

Legislative Branch: The Parliament has 200 members, elected to four-year terms in single-seat constituencies.

Results of Last Election:

President - Dec. 7, 2004

Parliament - Dec. 7, 2004

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