The main race between incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo’s NPP and former president John Mahama’s NDC party are both claiming wins as early results start trickling in.
Five hours after voting, Mahama tweeted a thank you message to Ghanaians for change. He has been telling confidants that he expects a resounding win once official results are announced.
Last night, the NDC in its previsionary vote had claimed 36 flipped parliamentary seats, including some wins in the capital.
These are highly populated areas and if those results are confirmed, it would undoubtedly help the presidential totals.
NDC early victories included the scalp of the NPP deputy minister of Transport, Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, who lost his Tema-East seat to Nii Ashai Odamtten.
The NDC would need to win at least 32 more seats and hold its the 106 that it currently controls to win a majority in parliament.
John Mahama now claims that he NDC is projected to win those seats, and thanks Ghanaians for “giving the NDC a working majority in the next Parliament”; a claim that has not be verified by the Electoral Commission.
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However, The NPP claims to now control 3 out 5 regions in the north, including the savannah region where the Mahama comes from.
Although some parliamentary seats have flipped, according to John Boadu, the NPP Secretary General, despite having lost some seats, the NPP has won, holding a 63 seat majority over the NDC.
Akufo-Addo posted several messages throughout voting day, urging Ghanaians to get out and vote.
Despite promises of a speedy counting of votes, the Electoral Commission has announced that its timeline has been delayed until further notice.
Results were expected to be released officially later today by the Electoral Commission, making it one of the fastest turnovers of elections in Africa and the world.