Rwandan President Kagame congratulates Ghana’s President-elect John Mahama

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has extended his warm congratulations to Ghana’s President-elect John Dramani Mahama following his decisive victory in the December 7 presidential election.  

In a message shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, President Kagame celebrated Mahama's success and expressed optimism about strengthening ties between Ghana and Rwanda. 

“Congratulations to my friend President-elect John Mahama on your election victory,” Kagame wrote. “Rwanda and Ghana share a strong commitment to progress, and we look forward to working together to strengthen our bilateral ties and advance the vision of a prosperous Africa.”  

Mahama, running on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), won the presidency with 56.55 per cent of the votes, representing over 6.32 million ballots cast. His closest rival, Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), garnered 41.61 per cent, equivalent to approximately 4.65 million votes.  

The Chairperson of Ghana’s Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, declared Mahama the winner late Sunday night. The results were based on counts from 267 constituencies, with nine constituencies still outstanding. However, the EC assured that the unreported figures would not affect the outcome of the election.  

This victory marks a significant political comeback for Mahama, 65, who previously served as Ghana’s president from 2012 to 2017. After losing his bid for re-election in 2016 and again in 2020, his return to power underscores the shifting dynamics of Ghana’s vibrant democracy.  

As Mahama prepares to lead the nation once more, Kagame’s message of solidarity highlights the enduring partnership between the two African nations, both committed to fostering development and promoting a shared vision for a prosperous continent.