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Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), revealed that his campaign staff opposed his choice to concede defeat in the election held on December 7.
Hours after the vote-counting process began on December 8, Dr. Bawumia made the concession.
On December 9, the Electoral Commission formally proclaimed John Dramani Mahama the victor, with 6,328,397 votes, or 56.55% of all valid ballots.
Speaking to party members at his home on Thursday, December 26, Dr. Bawumia said that his determination to protect Ghana’s peace and stability was the reason behind his early concession.
“So, even though the Electoral Commission had not yet pronounced [the winner], in fact, some of my people in my team were saying, you can’t go out to concede, we don’t know if all this data is right, let’s wait. But I said, look, we know this data is right from our own system,” Dr Bawumia explained.
He highlighted that delaying the concession could have exacerbated tensions and potentially sparked violence, given the prevailing perceptions of electoral manipulation.
“You know, so if you wait, you build up more tension, and violence could come because people would think we are trying to rig the election because that is the message that was coming, that we were trying to rig the election, “he stated.”
While acknowledging that it was unprecedented to concede before the Electoral Commission’s official declaration, the NPP flagbearer insisted that it was the right thing to do given the situation.
“However, no one has ever conceded an election without the EC making a public announcement, and I stated that everything happens for the first time,” he stated.
Many have hailed Dr. Bawumia’s early concession as a superb example of statesmanship.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
