By Christopher Arko
Accra, May 14 GNA-The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Sunday chose former President John Dramani Mahama to lead the party in the 2024 presidential election.
Mahama polled 297,603, or 98.9 percent, of the votes while his challenger, former Kumasi mayor Kojo Bonsu scored 3,181, or 1.1 percent.
“On behalf of the chairperson of the Commission, I duly declare Mr. John Dramani Mahama duly elected with 98.9 percent of the votes cast,” Dr Serebour Quaicoe, Director of Electoral Services of the Electoral Commission (EC) announced at the party’s headquarters in Accra.
He indicated that 305, 437 votes were cast in the presidential primaries. Valid votes were 300,784, whilst 4,653 votes were rejected.
Even before the EC officially confirmed the former President’s victory, Mr. Kojo Bonsu, congratulated Mr. Mahama for winning the party’s presidential contest.
In a Facebook post, the former Kumasi Mayor disclosed that he had called Mr. Mahama to congratulate him on his victory.
“I have called H.E. John Dramani Mahama to congratulate him for the landslide victory. Just as I have indicated throughout my campaign, regardless of the outcome of this election, I will continue to serve the NDC party,” he said.
Mr. Bonsu became the sole challenger to former President Mahama following the abrupt withdrawal of former Finance Minister, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor from the race on Friday.
Dr. Duffuor accused the party’s leadership of breaching the agreement and assurance given to the three presidential aspirants to resolve the issues raised about irregularities in the party’s voter register before Saturday’s polls.
Kojo Bonsu concedes to John Mahama
Mr. Kojo Bonsu, the former Metropolitan Chief Executive Officer of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, who contested the National Democratic Congress’ flagbearer race, has conceded to his sole contestant, Former President John Dramani Mahama.
Mr. Bonsu, in a statement issued on Saturday hours after much of the results of the NDC Presidential Primary had been declared by the Electoral Commission (EC), said he had congratulated former President Mahama on winning the 2023 Flagbearer Race of the NDC.
“I saw our former President H.E John Dramani Mahama and his team work so hard every day than ever before to achieve this accomplishment, and I can’t think of anyone who deserves it more than him at this moment. You set an amazing example for the NDC.” Mr. Kojo Bonsu stated.
Mr Mahama had by the declaration of the results from 270 of the 275 constituencies was leading by more than 95 percent of the valid votes cast.
The other contestant in the race, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, a former Minister of Finance and governor, pulled out of the race on Friday, saying he had concerns over the voters’ register.
This was after he discontinued a court injunction application he had earlier filed against the party and his contestants over the validity of the register.
GNA
KAS
14 May 2023
Pix 256 and 257 show Dr Serebour Quaicoe, Director of Electoral Services of the EC declaring the results of the NDC flagbearership race at the party headquarters in Accra.
