Ghanaian general election, 2016

Ghanaian presidential election, 2016

7 December 2016

Opinion polls   Nominee John Dramani Mahama Nana Akufo-Addo Party NDC New Patriotic

Incumbent President John Dramani Mahama NDC

General elections will be held in Ghana on 7 December 2016 to elect a President and Members of Parliament.^[1] They had originally been scheduled for 7 November 2016,^[2] but the date was later rejected by Parliament.^[1]

Electoral system

The president is elected using the two-round system, whilst the 275 members of Parliament will be elected in single-member constituencies using first-past-the-post voting.

Eligible voters must be Ghanaian citizens who are at least 18 years old, although those declared insane are disenfranchised. Parliamentary candidates must be Ghanaian citizens at least 21 years old, and either be resident in their constituency or have lived there for at least five of the ten years prior to the election.^[3]

Candidates

Presidential candidates

Over 16 people had filed with the election commission to run for president. However, over 12 presidential candidates were disqualified due to incorrect filling procedures. Some of the disqualified candidates include former first lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings and president of the National Democratic Party.^[4] There was some controversy that the candidates were disqualified due to political gain. The Electoral Commission has denied all accusations. After the disqualification, only four presidential candidates remained. Ivor Greenstreet from the Convention People's Party is also the first physically challenged candidate to contest the presidential election.^[5]

Party	Presidential Candidate	Running Mate
National Democratic Congress	John Dramani Mahama	Kwesi Amissah-Arthur[6]
Convention People's Party	Ivor Greenstreet	Gabby Nsiah Nketiah[7]
New Patriotic Party	Nana Akufo-Addo[8]	Mahamudu Bawumia[6]
Progressive People's Party	Paa Kwesi Nduom	Brigitte Dzogbenuku[9]
People's National Convention	Edward Mahama	Emmanuel Anyidoho[10]
National Democratic Party	Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings	Kojo Mensah Sosu[11]
Independent Candidate	Jacob Osei Yeboah	Daniel Wilson Torto[12]

Pre-election

• The election date changed from December 7 to November 7 and back to December 7 after a Supreme Court ruling.
• The Electoral Commission disqualified 13 presidential candidates.^[13][14]
• The Supreme court ordered the Electoral Commission to allow disqualified applicants to make corrections.^[15][16]

Opinion polls

Poll source	Date	Sample size	Undecided	Mahama NDC	Akufo-Addo NPP	Nduom PPP	Greenstreet CPP	Other candidates	Notes
Ben Ephson	28 November 2016	N/A		52.4%	45.9%	1.7%			2% margin of error
Ben Ephson	October 2016	N/A		50.8%	47.5%	1.7%			2% margin of error
Goodman AMC	August 2016	2,184	N/A	48%	43%	7%	0%		2.1% margin of error
Goodman AMC	June 2016	1,644	N/A	44%	52%	6%	1%		2.3% margin of error
Goodman AMC	April 2016	1,216	N/A	32%	65%	3%	0%

References

1. "Parliament rejects November 7 Election date". Ghana News Agency. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
2. Parliament approves GHC826m for 2016 elections Ghana Web, 21 December 2015
3. Electoral system IPU
4. Clottey, Peter. "Ghana Electoral Body Denies Candidates' Disqualifications Politically Motivated". VOA. Retrieved 2016-10-28.
5. "Who is Ivor Greenstreet?". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2016-10-28.
6. Bilie Adwoa McTernan. "Ghana's NPP prepares for the 2016 presidential race - West Africa". Retrieved 7 September 2014.
7. "CPP chooses Gabby Nketia as running mate". www.citifmonline.com. citifmonline.com. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
8. "Ghana: Akuffo Addo to contest 2016 Presidential Election - TVC NEWS". Retrieved 7 September 2014.
9. Myjoyonline.com (4 August 2016). "Nduom picks former Miss Ghana as running mate".
10. "PNC settles on Havard-trained economist as running mate". www.citifmonline.com. citifmonline.com. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
11. "NDP unveils Kojo Mensah Sosu as running mate". www.ghanaweb.com. Ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
12. "JOY selects Wilson Torto as running mate". www.ghanaweb.com. ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
13. Myjoyonline.com (10 October 2016). "EC disqualifies Nduom, Konadu, 11 others; accepts 4".
14. http://www.ec.gov.gh/medias/press-release/118-grounds-for-the-disqualification-of-some-presidential-candidates.html
15. Graphic.com.gh. "Supreme Court orders EC to give disqualified candidates hearing - Graphic Online - - 2016".
16. Myjoyonline.com (7 November 2016). "Supreme Court orders EC; allow disqualified candidates to make corrections".