2024 polls: Let's protect and uphold Ghana’s status as democratic beacon — Akufo-Addo to Ghanaians

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called on Ghanaians to safeguard the country’s hard-earned reputation as a beacon of democratic stability on the African continent.

Delivering his final address to the nation on Friday, December 6, ahead of the 2024 general elections, the President urged citizens to cherish and uphold the values that have sustained Ghana’s democracy.

Speaking on the importance of elections in a democracy, President Akufo-Addo underscored Ghana’s enviable track record of conducting eight successful elections since the country returned to constitutional rule in 1992.

“We should never forget that the flame of freedom needs to be protected and constantly refueled. Elections are at the heart of a democracy, and we qualify to be counted among mature democracies after eight successful elections,” he stated.

President Akufo-Addo noted that Ghana’s democratic journey has earned the admiration of the global community, particularly in Africa.

He emphasized the need for all stakeholders, including political parties, security agencies, and citizens, to work together to preserve the country’s democratic gains.

“It is not surprising that our country is held up as a beacon of democratic stability in Africa. We should be justly proud of this and do everything we can to protect and uphold this status,” he said.

The President’s remarks come at a critical moment as the country gears up for the 2024 general elections.

A total of 18,774,159 registered voters are expected to cast their ballots for one of 13 presidential candidates vying for the top post.

The election sees nine political party candidates and four independent candidates contesting each other in a fiercely contested race with the frontrunners being Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and former President John Dramani Mahama of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The numbers
This year’s election sees a significant turnout of biometric-registered voters, numbering 18,640,811, with an additional 131,478 special voters.

Notably, 55% of the electorate are youths, while 52% are female. Despite this, only 4% of voters are participating in the elections for the first time.

The electoral landscape spans 276 constituencies with a total of 40,648 polling stations, including 328 special polling stations for early voting.

Comparatively, voter turnout in Ghana has shown resilience, with a turnout rate of 79% in 2020, up from 69.6% in 2016, reflecting a growing political engagement.