For the ninth consecutive time in its fourth republican history, Ghanaians went to the polls like they have done every four years, to elect a new president and parliament. Despite the high stakes for both the incumbent New Patriotic Party (NPP) – which aimed hard to break the 8-year power swing cycle – and the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) – which aimed for a desperate comeback – the elections were held in a generally free, fair and transparent atmosphere. In less than 24 hours after the last vote was cast, the flagbearer of the incumbent party, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, called his main opponent, former President John Mahama, to concede and congratulate him on his “decisive” victory. This was way ahead of an official declaration by the Electoral Commission.
Dr Bawumia’s “statesmanly” concession, as described by the opposition, greatly helped to calm nerves, as Ghanaians were waiting with bated breath to know what was happening.
It was a show of maturity that affirmed Ghana’s status as a democracy torchbearer in West Africa – a region replete with coups, juntas and democracy-stifling leadership.
To its north lies Burkina Faso, one of three Sahelian states now under military rule, alongside Mali and Niger. These three landlocked nations, all led by juntas, form a restive belt directly bordering Ghana, which stands as a rare bastion of democratic governance in the region.
Since adopting its Fourth Republic Constitution in 1992, Ghana has maintained 32 years of uninterrupted democracy—a stark contrast to its neighbours. While the country has experienced its share of coups and political instability in the past, its steady commitment to democratic principles over the past three decades has solidified its reputation as a stabilising force in a volatile sub-region.
With its political stability and adherence to constitutional governance, Ghana’s democratic resilience is increasingly significant as the West African neighbourhood grapples with authoritarian reversals and governance crises.
Ghana, one of West Africa’s few enduring democracies, is poised for another orderly presidential transition as President Nana Akufo-Addo prepares to leave office in January 2025. His administration, the fifth under Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, exemplifies a political culture of respect for term limits—a rarity in a region plagued by coups and authoritarian backsliding.
President Akufo-Addo, who first assumed office in 2017 and won re-election in 2020, has consistently pledged to honour Ghana’s two-term constitutional limit. Speaking at the Kofi Annan Peace and Security Forum in December 2021, he reaffirmed his commitment to democracy, vowing not to alter the Constitution or obstruct the conduct of free and fair elections. “I will hand over power to the next elected president on 7th January 2025,” he said, while urging other West African leaders to uphold similar democratic principles.
Ghana’s political stability is built on a legacy of peaceful transitions. Since Jerry John Rawlings inaugurated the Fourth Republic in 1993, none of the country’s presidents have attempted to extend their tenure unlawfully. Successive leaders, including John Agyekum Kufuor (2001–2008), John Evans Atta Mills (2009–2012), John Mahama (2012–2016), and now Akufo-Addo, have adhered to term limits, respecting both electoral outcomes and constitutional mandates.
This tradition stands in stark contrast to the upheaval in neighbouring Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, where juntas have seized power. Ghana’s commitment to democratic governance has been bolstered by its free press, active civil society, and robust political institutions.
Former President Mahama, set to return to office in 2025 following his electoral victory, has also reiterated his rejection of military intervention as an option for addressing Ghana’s challenges. Speaking at a conference in October 2023, Mr Mahama criticised the current administration’s economic record but emphasised the need to maintain constitutional order. “We must adhere to constitutional governance and not entertain the alternative of coups,” he said.
The resilience of Ghana’s democracy is a testament to the collective efforts of its leaders, institutions, and citizens. Despite its proximity to regional instability, the country has demonstrated that steadfast adherence to democratic norms and constitutional governance can serve as a bulwark against external pressures. It is the hope and prayer of the Centre for Intelligence and Security Analysis (CISA Ghana) that Ghana’s firm commitment to democracy in a region ravaged by coups and political instability will be a positive contagion in place of the coup contagion that swept through West Africa and other regions from 2020 to 2023.
