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Flagbearer-elect of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama is optimistic the decision by the party members to select him as the leader of the party will not be in vain.

Mr. Mahama believes his overwhelming victory will culminate into a great victory for the NDC in the 2020 general elections.

The former President, who has won a second bid to contest the Presidential elections come 2020 on the ticket of the largest opposition party, the NDC, pledged to work hand in hand with the leadership of the party to achieve a resounding success for the party.

He urged the party to work together to bring truth and honesty into the country’s political discourse and further commended the party delegates and hierarchy for putting mechanisms in place to achieve peaceful, free and fair elections.

He called for unity in the party towards the 2020 elections stating emphatically “it’s my hope that with the current environment, we will work together and eschew all attempts to divide us, because in the business of politics, we know what happens. Let us be one. Let us trust each other and let us not believe the kind of stories that will be circulated creating the impression that one is trying to undermine the other." 

“We’re celebrating the great climax of the re-organization of our party after the elections of 2016. The overwhelming endorsement of our party is a signal that our efforts over the last two years have not been in vain. The process has been rigorous and tiring beginning with an analysis and fact finding mission to explore the reasons for our election loss in 2016 which was carried out by the now famous Kwesi Botchwey Committee and resulting in the Kwesi Botchwey Committee report,” he said.

Mr. Mahama also expressed sincere gratitude to the party leadership.

“I will thank members of the National executives who I have just acknowledged and thank members of my campaign team who have worked tirelessly to make sure that this day comes to realization . . . I will give thanks to our Chairman of Chairmen and those who know him, he’s Uncle Ato Ahwoi ‘Don King’, and also thank the great leader, and for those who don't know him, Mr. Kwame Peprah. I thank one of the sharpest political strategists in this country, he’s supposed to be retired but still very much alive and kicking, Hon. Kofi Totobi Quakyi . . . ”

He served notice to Ghana that from the outcome of the elections “the NDC is strong. The NDC is united. The NDC is poised for victory in 2020 and that nothing, absolutely nothing will stop our march towards the Flagstaff House”.

He disclosed that he had "officially received phone calls of congratulations from all my six fellow aspirants." 

Election Outcome

John Dramani Mahama polled 213,487 votes representing 95.24% out of the total valid vote cast of 225,521.

He was followed by Prof. Joshua Alabi who managed only 3,404 votes representing 1.52% while Alban Sumani Kingsford Bagbin placed third with 2,301 representing 1.033%.

Goosie Tanoh, the founder of the defunct National Reformed Party, came fourth with 2,091 votes respectively representing 0.93%.

The former Trade and Industry Minister in the Mahama government, Ekwow Spio Garbrah received 1,447 votes which represent 0.65% of the total votes.

Mr. Sylvester Mensah and Nurudeen Iddrisu secured a paltry 934 of valid votes cast representing 0.42% and 520 votes representing 0.23% respectively.