Ghana defies the odds yet again - the December 2012 elections in perspective

On 7 December 2012 Ghanaians came out en masse to elect a new president and members of Parliament, representing the country's 275 electoral constituencies. Of the 23 registered political parties only seven fielded presidential candidates. The candidates were Nana Dankwa Akufo-Addo, of the main opposition party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP); John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC); Michael Abu Sakara Foster of the Convention People's Party (CPP); Hassan Azariga of the People's National Convention (PNC); Papa Kwesi Nduom of the Progressive People's Party (PPP); Akwasi Addai Odike of the United Front Party (UFP) and Henry Herbert Lartey of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP). Jacob Osei Yeboah ran as an independent candidate, making a total of eight presidential candidates. Mahama, the incumbent, was declared the winner, with 5 574 761 (50.7%) against Akufo-Addo's 5 248 898 (47.74%).