Since 1992, Ghana has held competitive multiparty elections and undergone peaceful transfers of power between the two main political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Although the country has a relatively strong record of upholding political rights and civil liberties, discrimination against women persists, and LGBT+ people face widespread discrimination, intimidation, and violence. There are some weaknesses in judicial independence, key governance institutions, and the application of the rule of law. Corruption and public service delivery present challenges to government performance. Politically motivated violence remains a concern.

• General elections in December resulted in a peaceful rotation of power, with the opposition NDC capturing both the presidency and a majority in the legislature. In the presidential race, former President John Mahama of the NDC took more than 56 percent of the vote, defeating incumbent Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia of the NPP, who took less than 42 percent; incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo was term limited and could not run. The country’s first woman vice president, Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, was elected on the NDC’s ticket.
• In the legislative elections, the NDC won 183 of 276 seats, the NPP took 88, and independents captured 4; the remaining seat had yet to be declared at year’s end. While results were disputed in 12 constituencies, prompting electoral authorities to review vote tallies, both the parliamentary and presidential elections were generally described as free and fair by domestic and international observer groups. Some incidents of election-related violence were reported, resulting in at least six deaths, and cases of vote buying were also alleged.
• In February, Parliament passed legislation that would impose prison sentences of up to three years on people who identify as LGBT+ and up to five years on those who organize or finance LGBT+ advocacy groups; same-sex sexual conduct was already illegal. The Supreme Court dismissed legal challenges against the new measure in December, but the president had yet to sign it at year’s end.
• In July, after years of deliberation, Parliament passed a law on affirmative action to achieve gender equity, and the president signed it in September. The law set targets for reaching gender balance in political posts, corporate leadership, and other sectors by 2030, and prescribed fines and jail terms for acts of gender discrimination in employment.
• The year featured a series of antigovernment protests and demonstrations on issues such as the cost of living, poor infrastructure, and the increasingly acute problem of illegal mining with links to transnational crime and corruption. While the protests were largely peaceful, some led to clashes with the police, gunshots, and arrests. In September, police arrested more than 50 people who had staged a three-day demonstration against illegal mining practices, and many were detained for about two weeks before being granted bail.

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For additional background information, see last year’s full report.