Ghana election valid

"The first respondent (John Dramani Mahama) was validly elected and the petition is therefore dismissed," presiding Judge William Atuguba ruled on Thursday (29.08.2013). The nine-member panel ruling dismissed Ghana's opposition's challenge which had alleged voter fraud in one of Africa's most stable democracies.

The long-awaited verdict confirms Mahama's victory as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate during last December's presidential election. Ghana's electoral commission declared Mahama the winner with 50.7 percent. His main rival from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Akufo-Addo garnered 47.7 percent.

But the opposition claimed the vote had been rigged.They alleged that election figures were inflated and in some cases there had been ballot stuffing. Some of the judges agreed with certain NPP allegations but unanimously endorsed Mahama's win.

Reacting to the ruling, President Mahama issued a statement on his Twitter account saying, "the Supreme Court has spoken and validated our December 2012 victory.” He also added that this was "Ghana's victory".

Concessions and congratulations

Opposition leader Nana Akufo-Addo was quick to concede defeat. He told reporters he would not challenge the court's ruling. "Whilst I do not agree with the court's decision, I accept it," Akufo-Addo told journalists. He said he had spoken to President Mahama and congratulated him.

Both parties had given assurances that they would accept the court's ruling. There had been a massive campaign from politicians and religious leaders urging restraint ahead of the court's decision.

After the verdict was announced, opposition supporters quickly left, while the president's loyalists burst into celebrations. Akofo Ampaw, a lawyer who represented the opposition, told DW in an interview he was unhappy with the decision. “In terms of the specifics, we will need to study the written addresses and also the summary that the president of the panel delivered.”

Nana Ato Dadzie, a member of the president's legal team said the verdict had validated the presidency. "We are so happy, we think that our electoral system has come to show that it is of strength," the lawyer noted.

Tense moments

The proceedings were closely followed live on radio and television. The country's security agencies deployed 30,000 police officers around the country, as helicopters hovered above sealed streets that led to the Supreme Court. Businesses remained closed in the capital Accra, as most people chose to remain at home.

The ruling should bring relief to one of Africa's fastest growing markets. Ghana has built a reputation as a stable democracy in the politically unstable western part of Africa. One resident of Accra told DW correspondent Isaac Kaledzi, he was grateful peace had prevailed. "There is no problem, no fighting. Everything is peaceful so we are happy."

However, political analyst Kwame Jantuah says urgent electoral reforms are needed to make future elections better. "I hope the NDC is not going to feel that they have won these elections and so all is well. This is the time to work hard." Legal experts had predicted the court would dismiss the opposition case, saying it had failed to provide concrete evidence of election fraud.