Ghana’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Buhamudu Bawumia, has conceded defeat in Saturday’s presidential and parliamentary elections conducted in the country.
Bawumia, the incumbent vice president accepted his defeat by calling and congratulating former President John Mahama and candidate of the major opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Sunday morning as collation of the result was ongoing.
The Electoral Commission earlier announced that it had yet to get the results from any of the 276 constituencies in the country.
Briefing newsmen at his residence, Bawumia said Mahama’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) also won the parliamentary election
Bawumia said: “Let me say that the data from our own internal collation of the election results indicate that former President John Dramani Mahama has won the Presidential election decisively.
“The NDC has also won the parliamentary election. Even though we await final collation of a number of seats, I believe ultimately these will not change the outcome.”
Bawumia said he conceded defeat to the former President before the official results to ease tensions.
He added: “I am making this concession speech before the official announcement by the Electoral Commission to avoid further tension and preserve the peace of our country.
“It is important that the world investor community continues to believe in the peaceful and democratic character of Ghana.
“The people have voted for change at this time, and we respect that decision with all humility.”