Opposition leader Nana Akufo-Addo declared President-elect of Ghana

Nana Akufo-Addo of the main opposition party New Patriotic Party (NPP) has been declared winner and president-elect of the Republic of Ghana.

The Electoral Commission of Ghana declared the final results on Friday night with the NPP flagbearer beating the president by securing 5,716,026 votes making 53.85%.

We declare Nana Akufo-Addo as President-Elect of our Ghana. God bless Ghana. Thank you.

— Electoral Commission (@ECGhanaOfficial) December 9, 2016

“By the power vested in me as the chairperson of the electoral commission and the returning officer for the presidential election, it is my duty and my privilege to declare Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the president-elect of the Republic of Ghana,” EC Chairperson Charlotte Osei declared.

President John Dramani Mahama secured 4,713,277 votes making 44.40% of valid votes cast.

These results, according to the EC, excludes four constituencies with results not ready due to late voting and objections raised. The four constituencies recorded a total 220,270 votes.

“The results of the four constituencies are immaterial to the final outcome of the presidential results,” Charlotte Osei assured.

Voter turnout for the election was 68.62% and total valid votes cast are 10,615,361 against 166,248 rejected ballots representing 1.54% of votes.

The official declaration of 2016 Presidential Election results: pic.twitter.com/6Uwxfaz0xS

— Electoral Commission (@ECGhanaOfficial) December 9, 2016

The declaration was welcomed by loud cheers in most parts of the country by supporters of President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo.