Republic of Ghana: President, 7 December 2016

At stake in this election:

• The office of president of the Republic of Ghana

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 24 July 2012)
• Head of Government: President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 24 July 2012)
• Assembly: Ghana has a unicameral Parliament composed of 275 seats with members serving 4-year terms.

Description of electoral system:

• The president is directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term, with eligibility for a second term.

Last Election:

• The last presidential election was held on 7 December 2012. John Dramani MAHAMA was elected with 50.70% of the vote, defeating Nana AKUFO-ADDO, who finished with 47.74%, as well as several other candidates.

Main candidates in the election:[1]

• John Dramani MAHAMA
  • Party: National Democratic Congress (NDC)
• Nana Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO
  • Party: New Patriotic Party (NPP)
• Ivor Kobina GREENSTREET
  • Party: Convention People’s Party (CPP)
• Papa Kwesi NDUOM
  • Party: Progressive People’s Party (PPP)
• Nana Konadu AGYEMAN-RAWLINGS
  • Party: National Democratic Party (NDP)
• Edward MAHAMA
  • Party: People’s National Congress (PNC)
• Jacob Osei YEBOAH
  • Party: Independent

Population and number of registered voters:

·         Population: 26,908,262 (July 2016 est.)

·         Registered Voters: 14,031,793 (2012)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 13,636,678 (July 2016 est.)

·         Is Ghana a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)

·         Has Ghana ratified CEDAW: Yes (2 January 1985)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: No

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 30 (10.91%)

·         Human Development Index Position: 140 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: High (2014)

Disability Data:

·         Is Ghana a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has Ghana ratified CRPD: Yes (31 July 2012)

·         Population with a disability: 4,036,239 (est.)