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Ghana's former President John Mahama, current opposition leader to the outgoing government, has promised "a new beginning, a new direction" for the country after being officially declared the winner of Saturday's presidential election.
During the campaign, Mahama promised to transform Ghana into a "24-hour economy".
John Mahama won with 56.6% against 41.6% for Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia. It is the biggest margin of victory in the country for 24 years.
Voter turnout was 60.9%, said the head of Ghana's electoral commission, Jean Mensa.
Mahama said he felt "humbled" that he and his National Democratic Congress (NDC) had "chalked one of the best results in the electoral history of Ghana". He also noted that Ghana had "made history" by choosing its first female Vice-President, Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang. And he thanked Bawumia for conceding, which he did long before the official announcement of the results. The vice-president said he was doing so "to avoid further tension and preserve the peace of our country".
Nevertheless, there was still some frustration that it took so long to announce the official results.
President Nana Akufo-Addo is stepping down after reaching the official limit of two terms in office.
This election comes amid the worst economic crisis in a generation. Unemployment, the cost of living and concerns over the environmental impact of illegal gold mining were among the key issues.
With many Ghanaians desperate for a change, Mahama won several regions - including Bono, Ahafo, Western, and Central - which the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) had won in 2020.
