The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC), Jean Mensa, has provided a rationale for the commission’s decision to annul the declaration of parliamentary election results for three constituencies in the Greater Accra Region. During a press briefing held at the EC headquarters in Accra, Jean Mensa stated that the returning officers responsible for announcing the results in these constituencies—namely Tema Central, Okaikwei Central, and Ablekuma North—were compelled to do so without adhering to the mandated procedures.
In each of these constituencies, the declared winners were announced without the inclusion of results from a substantial number of polling stations. For example, in the Okaikwei Central Constituency, the winner was declared without the results from 41 polling stations, while in the Ablekuma North Constituency, the declaration was made without the results from 62 polling stations.
Jean Mensa highlighted that in Okaikwei Central, 110 polling station results were used to declare a winner instead of 141. Similarly, in Ablekuma North, 219 polling station results were used instead of 281. In Tema Central, the declaration was made using 146 polling stations instead of 148.
The EC Chairperson emphasized that the commission would not uphold these declarations due to the procedural discrepancies. The annulment has led to significant discussions and calls for a re-evaluation of the electoral process to ensure accuracy and transparency in future elections.
Cardi B’s Comments on Men’s Dating Preferences Stir Debate Globally
In a recent social media livestream, American rapper Cardi B ignited a global discussion with her bold assertion on why some men might prefer dating women deemed less attractive. The artist, known for her unfiltered views, suggested that men might opt for less conventionally attractive partners because they perceive these individuals as more submissive and easier to control.
During the livestream, Cardi B touched on the dynamics of power in relationships, stating, “Men prefer less attractive women because they are more submissive than perfect 10s.” She argued that men often feel intimidated by independent, confident women, whom she referred to as “10s,” due to their reluctance to tolerate disrespect or settle for less than equality in their relationships.
Elaborating on her point, Cardi B noted that women without financial independence or confidence might feel compelled to endure negative behavior from partners. “These b#tches, they don’t have nothing, they have to tolerate everything,” she remarked, emphasizing the pressure on less affluent or less confident women to maintain relationships despite mistreatment.
In contrast, she highlighted her own stance on handling disrespect, symbolizing her method with a glass of ice water, “You do some f#ck s### to me, I’m putting you on f#cking yellow. You on this. This is where you at, on ice,” indicating her approach of freezing out disrespectful behavior.
Cardi B’s comments also address a broader critique of societal norms where “10s” or highly attractive women might not engage in the competition for male attention due to their confidence and self-worth. “These 10s are not trying to compete,” she observed. “They’re just trying to get picked. It’s crazy how that’s how men are thinking nowadays.”
This theory comes in the wake of Cardi B’s own high-profile relationship issues, including her recent divorce from fellow rapper Offset, following allegations of infidelity. Her remarks have since sparked varied responses across social media, with some fans and commentators applauding her for highlighting gender dynamics in relationships, while others criticize her for potentially promoting negative stereotypes about attractiveness and submission.
The debate has not only highlighted Cardi B’s influence in sparking conversations on gender roles and relationship expectations but also reflects on the complexities of modern dating, power, and control within partnerships. As discussions continue, the conversation underscores the diverse perspectives on what constitutes attractiveness, the role of submission in relationships, and how these perceptions shape interactions between genders worldwide.
Cardi B says that men prefer less attractive women because they are more submissive than Beautiful women 👀🤔pic.twitter.com/RePxhsRAwL
It was a brief moment of joy and a flood of congratulatory messages when President-Elect John Dramani Mahama and Vice President-Elect Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang met President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House on Wednesday, December 11, 2024. This meeting marked the beginning of the transition process following Mahama’s victory in the 2024 elections.
President Akufo-Addo smiled upon the arrival of Mahama and Naana Jane, extending his congratulatory messages to the newly elected leaders, as seen in a video posted by CitiFM. The outgoing and incoming leaders took pictures to mark the occasion, symbolizing the end of an era and the beginning of a new government.
This meeting followed an invitation from President Akufo-Addo to President-Elect Mahama to initiate the transition process. The transition aims to ensure a smooth handover of power to the incoming administration on January 7, 2025.
President Akufo-Addo emphasized his commitment to good governance and a peaceful transition, which he believes will strengthen Ghana’s reputation as a beacon of democracy in Africa.
Leading the transition team for the incoming Mahama administration, Julius Debrah has been selected as the Co-Chairperson, assisted by Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, Dr. Callistus Mahama, Dr. Valerie Sawyer, Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Goosie Tanoh, and Dr. Edward Omane Boamah. Additionally, Edward Doe Adjaho has been nominated to serve as a member of the Transitional Advisory Council.
The team, comprising experienced individuals from various sectors, including finance, governance, and public administration, reflects a commitment to efficiency and competence during the transition period.
Jubilant victory songs filled the air in Ghana’s capital, Accra, on Monday as supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party filled the streets to celebrate their candidate, former President John Dramani Mahama’s win in an election that will once again make him head of state of the West African nation.
Decked in the party’s colours of red, white and black, supporters, young and old, blew on flutes, whistled and drummed thunderously on plastic buckets, as they hugged and danced in front of the NDC headquarters in Accra’s Adabraka neighbourhood.
Their joy was hardly surprising. Mahama’s defeat of Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, the candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), was astonishingly complete. Experts predicted a very close vote, and maybe even a run-off, but Mahama wiped the floor with the NPP and won by an unprecedented landslide. For the first time in the country, a clear winner emerged within hours of polls closing on Sunday. By nightfall, Bawumia, who was behind by an unheard of 1.6 million votes, conceded defeat.
“We’ve not seen such a massive gap before in any elections since 1992 because Ghana elections are usually closely fought,” researcher Emmanuel Yeboah of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) told Al Jazeera.
The scenes in Accra marked the culmination of a surprising election year across the African continent, during which opposition movements made big waves, either totally ejecting incumbent parties from power or significantly loosening their grip.
From some 12 general elections, four countries (Ghana, Botswana, Mauritius and Senegal) alongside the breakaway, self-governed region of Somaliland, recorded total transfers of power. Two others (South Africa and Namibia) saw significant opposition gains.
Out with the old, in with the new
While it is impossible to box all African countries and their electorates together, voters largely assessed some of the same key issues in deciding who to vote for, experts say.
“There’s a sense that voters want to punish parties for failure to boost economies, create jobs and fight corruption,” Graham Hopwood, executive director of the Namibia-based Institute for Public Policy Research, told Al Jazeera. In some cases, opposition groups played on these failures in their campaigns, and bonded to get stronger, he said.
Soaring inflation in Ghana – the kind not felt in a decade – corruption, and severe environmental degradation from illegal mining or “galamsey” proved the final death knell for the ruling NPP government led by President Nana Akufo-Addo.
The NDC campaigned on the government’s failures, but it was ultimately the low turnout of the NPP’s own support base that hurt the party, aptly reflecting how much it had let Ghanaians down. Voter turnout on Sunday was only 60 percent because many NPP supporters, frustrated with the government and lacking faith in the opposition, did not vote, Yeboah of the CDD said.
“NPP thought they would get more votes because of their free senior high school policy but ultimately, they were punished,” he said, referring to the landmark 2017 policy of the Akufo-Addo government that made senior secondary education free for all.
Some of the more seismic shifts occurred in the Southern African region where liberation parties, once loved for ending colonialism or apartheid, are increasingly unpopular, particularly among young voters. That’s because young people did not live that history, Hopwood said, and thus, lack the sense of nostalgia that held these parties in place.
South Africa led with the first shocker in early June when the African National Congress (ANC) lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in 30 years.
The party, once seen as a beacon of hope for ushering in democracy after apartheid, faces criticism for South Africa’s severe economic downturn that has reduced the continental giant to a country racked by poverty, unemployment and embarrassing power cuts.
Internal battles between President Cyril Ramaphosa and his predecessor, former President Jacob Zuma, further divided its traditional support base. ANC votes, which had steadily declined in recent elections, slipped further to 40 percent this time, less than the number required to form a government, forcing the crippled party into a historic “unity government” with the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party and six others.
It was a more complete loss for Botswana’s dominant Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in November, which had ruled the country since independence in 1966. Opposition movements, banded under the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) and led by lawyer Duma Boko, denied President Mokgweetsi Masisi a second term and ended the BDP’s 58-year dominance by a landslide. The party — faulted by voters for a declining diamond economy — won only four seats, down from its previous 38 seats in the 69-seat strong parliament.
Youth fury and lingering COVID-19 anger
Elsewhere on the continent, young people’s fury over corruption proved pivotal, in addition to anger over jobs and the economy. In Senegal’s March polls, former President Macky Sall’s attempts to run for an unconstitutional third term led to violent protests, and led to the ushering in of President Bassirou Faye’s PASTEF party.
Then, anger had been boiling since the COVID-19 pandemic when many countries recorded embezzlement scandals.
In Mauritius’s November polls, government heavy-handedness and perceptions of increasing corruption levels proved the end for former leader Pravind Kumar Jugnauth. In 2022, a transformation index report by the research organisation Bertelsmann Foundation found that rising corruption in the country, once seen as transparent, worsened during the pandemic, as officials exploited loopholes in the emergency procurement of medical supplies. Distrust of the government worsened this year after explosive allegations of wiretapping operations by government operatives emerged.
“It’s not just in Africa,” Yeboah of CDD said. “If you look at most of the governments that went through the pandemic, most of them did not survive re-elections, including in the US.”
Some countries witnessed smaller, but no less important shifts. Namibia’s opposition was less well-organised but managed to dent the hold of the ruling SWAPO party (South West Africa People’s Organisation) in disputed November elections.
Like South Africa’s ANC, the party has been in power since independence in 1990. Although Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah won in the November polls, SWAPO lost 12 seats in parliament and now only just holds a majority with 51 of 96 seats.
Meanwhile, in Mozambique, the ruling Frelimo party, which came to power in 1975 after fighting a successful war of independence against Portugal, is under fire. Young supporters of independent opposition candidate Venancio Mondlane have taken to the streets since October’s hotly disputed elections that saw Frelimo candidate Daniel Chapo win. Scores of protesters have been shot by police.
Lessons learned?
The historic opposition wins on the continent signify that democratic institutions in many African countries are becoming increasingly robust and that the people’s will is being respected, experts say.
“Citizens are getting more enlightened by the day and are voting regardless of ethnic or religious affiliations, unlike before,” Yeboah of the Ghana CDD said.
That’s a significant improvement on a continent where countries were, until the 1960s, under colonial rule, and had to build democratic institutions from scratch. Several countries, till now, hold elections not classified as free or fair, and a wave of coups in West and Central Africa saw military governments forcefully seize power between 2022 and 2023.
President Idriss Deby held onto power in Chad after he won more than 60 percent of the vote this May, extending his family’s 30-year rule. President Paul Kagame of Rwanda also cruised to an easy victory with an incredulous 99 percent of the vote in July.
Back in Ghana where opposition NDC supporters are still basking in their newfound glow, thanks to a peaceful poll count and Bawumia’s swiftness to concede and avert violence, Yeboah says the country’s elections, alongside the opposition wave recorded across the continent, are likely pointers to more unexpected shifts next year. Ivory Coast and Malawi are some of the countries expected to hold elections in 2025.
“This is a lesson for African governments,” Yeboah said of the NPP’s resounding defeat.
“Our governments need to learn that you can’t just come up with one policy and think it will appeal to all voters. Citizens are now too savvy – they know that any government that misbehaves has to be punished.”
A woman casts her vote in elections in Windhoek, Namibia, on November 29, 2024
Supporters of Ghana’s John Dramani Mahama celebrate his victory after his opponent, vice president and governing party candidate, Mahamudu Bawumia conceded in Accra, Ghana, on Sunday, December 8, 2024.
In a significant move to support Ghana’s cocoa farmers, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has announced a new initiative to provide free university education for the children of cocoa farmers. This pledge was made during the Farmers’ Day celebrations in the Odotobri Constituency of the Ashanti Region.
Dr. Bawumia, who is also the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the upcoming December 7 general elections, outlined the details of this ambitious plan. He emphasized that the initiative aims to replace the existing Senior High School (SHS) cocoa scholarship program, which has become redundant with the implementation of the Free SHS policy2.
Addressing a gathering of farmers, Dr. Bawumia explained that the funds currently allocated for SHS scholarships would be redirected to cover tertiary education costs for the children of cocoa farmers. “Initially, COCOBOD provided scholarships for the children of cocoa farmers to attend Senior High Schools. However, with the introduction of the free Senior High School (SHS) policy, every child can now attend SHS at no cost,” he stated.
Dr. Bawumia further elaborated that starting next year, COCOBOD will take over the responsibility of paying university fees for cocoa farmers’ children. This move is expected to empower Ghana’s agricultural communities and expand economic opportunities by enabling the children of cocoa farmers to pursue higher education and vocational training3.
The Vice President also addressed concerns raised by the Chief of Odotobri, Nana Adu Darko, regarding the deplorable state of farmlands and the impact of climate change on farming. Dr. Bawumia assured the community that new technologies would be employed to address these issues and support sustainable agriculture.
This commitment to free tertiary education is seen as a meaningful, long-term support to families whose work sustains Ghana’s leading export industry. It sets a new vision for education in Ghana, providing hope and opportunities for the future generations of cocoa farmers2.
Ghana’s Parliament is in turmoil as Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin publicly accuses Speaker Alban Bagbin of betrayal. In a candid interview on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo morning show, Afenyo-Markin expressed his frustration and disappointment with Bagbin, whom he claims failed to honor assurances during a critical political crisis.
The controversy centers around a petition filed by Haruna Iddrisu, a senior figure in the National Democratic Congress (NDC), urging Speaker Bagbin to declare four parliamentary seats vacant. These seats were held by MPs who opted to run as independents in the upcoming elections, a move the NDC deemed grounds for removal. Afenyo-Markin revealed that he had approached Bagbin, cautioning him about the potential repercussions of endorsing the petition. Bagbin, he claimed, assured him that there would be no endorsement, a promise Afenyo-Markin relied on to maintain parliamentary stability.
However, Afenyo-Markin felt deceived when Bagbin’s stance appeared to waver. “I trusted him,” Afenyo-Markin said, his frustration evident. “We spoke about it, and he gave me his word. He knew the risks, he knew what was at stake, and still, here we are”. Feeling betrayed, Afenyo-Markin decided to take the matter to the Supreme Court, seeking a judicial ruling to clarify the boundaries between party loyalty and independence.
The situation has escalated tensions within Parliament, with Afenyo-Markin’s revelations painting a vivid picture of the distrust simmering within the legislative body. As the political crisis unfolds, the integrity and stability of Ghana’s Parliament hang in the balance.
Ghanaian rapper Edem has reignited a long-standing debate by claiming that he was unjustly denied the Artiste of the Year award at the 2015 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA). In a recent post on X, Edem likened his experience to the recent Ballon d’Or controversy, where Vinicius Jr. was widely expected to win but did not. Edem described the decision as a “heinous crime” and “daylight robbery”.
In 2015, the nominees for the prestigious Artiste of the Year category included Daddy Lumba, Stonebwoy, Guru, Edem, MzVee, Sarkodie, and Samini. Stonebwoy ultimately took home the award, a decision that Edem has continued to contest. Edem’s song “Koene” and its remix “The One” earned him several nominations, including Best Rapper, but he believes his hard work and contributions were overlooked by the VGMA board.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has taken a swipe at former President John Dramani Mahama, highlighting his status as Ghana’s only one-term president. During a campaign tour in the Ahafo Region on October 29, Akufo-Addo questioned Mahama’s credibility and political influence, suggesting that his lack of a second term undermines his claims of superiority.
This remark follows Mahama’s recent refusal to engage in a debate with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. Mahama dismissed the idea, stating that debating Bawumia would undeservedly elevate the Vice President to his level. He insisted that he would only engage directly with his presidential equal.
Reacting to Mahama’s dismissal, President Akufo-Addo argued that Mahama has no grounds to claim superiority over Dr. Bawumia. He emphasized that Mahama’s tenure as a one-term president does not place him above the Vice President. “Mahama says he won’t debate Bawumia because Bawumia isn’t in his class. But let’s be clear: what class does Mahama claim to? If there is any class Mahama can claim, it is the unfortunate distinction of being Ghana’s only one-term president since the Fourth Republic,” Akufo-Addo stated.
Akufo-Addo urged supporters in Ahafo to back Bawumia in the upcoming elections, stressing that his Vice President’s leadership and contributions stand as a testament to his capacity to lead Ghana effectively. He called for support for Dr. Bawumia, noting that his vice president has the acumen, vision, and integrity necessary to manage Ghana for the years ahead.
In a heated exchange ahead of the upcoming presidential elections, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has responded to former President John Dramani Mahama’s recent economic critiques with a bold challenge. Bawumia, the flagbearer for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has listed 50 questions directed at Mahama, urging him to engage in a public debate.
Mahama had posed five questions focusing on Ghana’s economic challenges, including the depreciation of the cedi, rising inflation, and the national debt increase. Bawumia, however, dismissed these questions as “flimsy” and called on Mahama to “man up” and face him in a one-on-one debate.
“I would have thought he would be man enough to face me in a one-on-one debate for the Ghanaian public to assess our respective policies, achievements, and visions. He should not hide behind these flimsy questions to avoid a debate,” Bawumia stated on social media.
Among the 50 questions posed by Bawumia are inquiries about Mahama’s handling of the energy crisis (Dumsor), the cancellation of teacher and nursing training allowances, and the collapse of the banking sector under Mahama’s administration. Bawumia also questioned Mahama’s record on job creation, infrastructure development, and social intervention policies.
The exchange marks a continuation of the longstanding rivalry between the two candidates, with Bawumia previously posing 170 questions to then-Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur in 2016. As the election draws closer, the public eagerly awaits a potential debate that could provide clarity on the economic policies and visions of both candidates.
Ghanaian gospel musician Broda Sammy has raised concerns over the financial struggles faced by young women in church communities, suggesting that these hardships are pushing some to turn to hookup culture as a source of income. Speaking on United Showbiz on October 26, 2024, Sammy urged churches to offer more tangible support to their struggling members, warning that a lack of aid could have serious repercussions for the church community.
During his appearance, Sammy stated, “Some female church members are now engaged in hookups; there is no money.” He argued that while churches often emphasize donations and offerings, many have ample financial resources to help alleviate the burdens of their members. However, these funds are not always utilized for community support, leaving some members without the assistance they need.
Sammy pointed out that some congregations have been established for over five decades and, as owners of their properties, do not face rental or substantial overhead expenses. These financial advantages, he believes, should enable churches to extend more meaningful aid to members in need.
“Some churches have been in existence for more than 50 years. They do not have many expenses because they own most of their property. Some of their members have been selling tomatoes at the markets for years and have been consistently giving their little 1 cedi as offering but are not getting any help,” Sammy said.
Sammy further warned that the current approach could lead to dwindling church attendance if changes are not made. He called on churches to reconsider their strategies for community engagement and soul-winning, emphasizing that support for members’ welfare should be a priority.
“One day, there will be nobody to attend,” he cautioned.
