The most difficult decision yet: Ghana’s 2008 presidential elections

Abstract

Ghana’s presidential election was held from 7 December 2008 through to 2 January 2009. The paper highlights
the difficulty of choice between two good candidates which polarised the nation into two nearly equal halves.
This paper also discusses the significance of the election to Africa and the rest of the international community.
The article makes the point that the incumbent NPP administration would have won the presidency if their
supporters had made sure to vote sufficiently enough in the first round. The article adds that the mixed quality
of opinion polls had an influence on the electoral process. The article further emphasizes the utter
independence and efficiency of the Electoral Commission. The impossible challenge for the new administration
to live up to real and imagined expectations also has potential to cost them the next election. The article finally
sets the scene for the next presidential election in 2012, and concludes with a note on the role of the
international community, particularly the African Union, in future democratic governance in Africa.