Election 2024: Bawumia Did Ghana a Great Service by Conceding Defeat Early – Rt. Rev. Prof. Sarfo-Kantanka
The former Methodist Bishop lauds Bawumia’s swift gesture but laments post-election tensions despite the peaceful voting process
- Dr. Bawumia conceded defeat a day after the election, congratulating John Mahama
- Rt. Rev. Prof. Sarfo-Kantanka praised the gesture but regretted the post-election skirmishes
- He urged leaders to adopt peaceful approaches to prevent future election-related tensions
A former Methodist Bishop of the Kumasi Diocese, Rt. Rev. Prof. Sarfo-Kantanka, has commended the 2024 Election New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, for his swift and gracious concession of defeat to his opponent, John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Dr. Bawumia conceded on Sunday, December 8, just a day after the December 7 general election, a move Rt. Rev. Sarfo-Kantanka believes demonstrated political maturity and patriotism.
In his concession statement to the nation, Dr. Bawumia confirmed that he had called President-elect John Mahama to congratulate him.
“The data from our internal coalition of election results indicate that former President John Dramani Mahama has won the Presidential election decisively. The NDC has also won the parliamentary elections, although we are still awaiting the final coalition for several seats. However, I believe this will not change the overall outcome,” Dr. Bawumia said.
Speaking on the “Ghana Se Sen” Show on Lawson TV/Radio on Tuesday, December 17, Rt. Rev. Prof. Sarfo-Kantanka applauded the early concession as a step toward peace, even though he noted it did not fully prevent post-election skirmishes.
“I thought Bawumia’s quick concession would have curbed any post-election violence, but unfortunately, some tensions still erupted,” he remarked.
The former KNUST Lecturer stressed that while he did not anticipate a full-blown conflict, the aggressive posture of the two main political parties during the election brought some unease. Nevertheless, he maintained that the election could have been one of the most peaceful in Ghana’s history if not for the isolated disturbances.
Rt. Rev. Sarfo-Kantanka encouraged political leaders to always prioritize peace and unity in their actions and rhetoric, especially during critical moments like elections.
