General Elections are held every four(4) years in Ghana as demand by the constitution of the land. These elections are held to elect both the president and parliamentary representatives.

Unlike the parliamentary election where a candidate wins by a simple majority, the president must compulsorily win with at least 50% + 1 of the valid votes cast.

Interestingly, our constitutional rule that begins in 1992, witnessed some varied electoral results at the presidency level. From 1992 till date, the country can boast of eight(8) successful general elections with two competitive run-offs.

Jerry John Rawlings, on the ticket of the Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC) stood for the 1992 presidential election whiles Albert Adu Boahen represent the NPP.

At the end of the general election that was conducted by the then Interim National Electoral Commission headed by Dr. Afari-Gyan, Jerry John Rawlings won the election by a margin of 1,118,371 of the total valid votes cast.

He actually pulled 2,323,135 of the total valid votes representing 58.4% whiles his closest contender, Albert Adu Boahen of the NPP pulled 1,204,764 of the total valid votes representing 30.3%.

In 1996, Jerry John Rawlings, though won the presidential election by 57.4% less than the 58.4% in 1992, he won by a margin of 1,264,880 more than the margin of the 1992 general election(1,118,371).

He pulled 4,099,758 of the valid votes representing 57.4% as against the 2,834,878 valid votes of his closest contender representing 39.7%.

This means that, Jerry John Rawlings ruled Ghana with a vote margins of 1,118,371 in 1992 and 1,264,880 in 1996.

The subsequent elections year took the following trend.

In 2000, after the run-off, John A. Kuffour of the NPP won the presidential election by a margin of 881,137 after he pulled 3,631,263 of the total valid votes representing 56.9%, whiles John Evan Atta Mills of the NDC pulled 2,750,124 of the total valid votes representing 43.1%

Kuffour’s vote margin in 2004 reduces from 881,137 to 673706 after pulling 4,524,074 of the valid votes representing 52.4%. Atta Mills in 2004 also pulled 3,850,368 representing 44.6% of total valid votes.

Kuffour therefore ruled with a vote margin of 881,137 and 673,706 in 2000 and 2004 respectively.

John Evans Atta Mills in 2008 also ruled with a vote margin of 40,586 after beating Akuffo Addo with a total valid votes of 4,521,032 representing 50.2%. Akuffo Addo of the NPP pulled 4,480,446 representing 49.8%. This I must say is the result of the 2008 run-off.

It will be recalled that, Akuffo Addo beats Atta Mills in the first round after pulling 4,159,439 of the total valid votes representing 49.13% as against the 4,056,634 valid votes for Atta Mills representing 47.92%.

In 2012, John Mahama’s leadership became possible with a winning vote margin of 325,863 after pulling 5,574,761 of the valid votes representing 50.7% as against the 5,248,898 valid votes for Akuffo Addo of the NPP representing 47.7%

Again in 2016, Akuffo Addo formed a government with a winning vote margin of 984,570 after pulling a valid votes of 5,755,758 representing 53.7%. John Mahama of the NDC also pulled 4,771,188 representing 44.5%.

With the immediate past election, Election 2020, Akuffo Addo was declared winner after securing 6,730,587 valid votes representing 51.30%. John Mahama of the NDC who came second also pulled 6,213,182 representing 47.36%.

This brought the winning margin of Akuffo Addo for 2020 to 517,405 as against the 984,570 in 2016.

From the above winning trend, we can confidently tell that, Jerry John Rawlings was the only president with the highest vote margins in the history of our presidential elections.

He won in both terms with a margin above one (1) million, thus 1,118,371 margin in 1992 and 1,264,880 margin in 1996. Indeed he was the man of the people.

Considering the fact that, some of the presidents only ruled for one term, it will be prudent to look at the performances in the first term.

1. Jerry John Rawlings 1,118,371 winning margin

2. Akuffo Addo 984,570 winning margin

3. J A Kuffour 881,137 winning margin

4. John Mahama 325,863 winning margin

5. Atta Mills 40,586 winning margins

Apart from winning with lesser margins, John Mahama and Atta Mills ruled with the lowest percentage range of 50% to 50.7%.

–Seth K. Nartey