Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo won his re-election with 51.59% of the vote, beating his predecessor and old rival John Mahama.
The results follow a contentious poll that both candidates had said they were leading based on their camps’ tallies.
Five people were killed in election violence since Monday, the police said, marring what observers said was a well-organized vote.
President Uhuru Kenyatta congratulated President Nana Akufo-Addo saying the re-election demonstrates the strong confidence and trust the people of Ghana have for in visionary and progressive leadership.
“On behalf of the Government and the people of Kenya and on my own behalf, I wish to extend my warmest congratulations on Your Excellency’s re-election as President of Ghana,” President Kenyatta said in his congratulatory message to President Akufo-Addo.
Akufo Addo has promised to implement a $17 billion program to boost Ghana’s economy after the coronavirus pandemic hit the price of key oil and cocoa exports, resulting in the first quarterly contraction in nearly 40 years.
He will be under pressure to rein in government spending that has pushed the debt-to-GDP ratio past 70% and prompted warnings from the International Monetary Fund.
