Akufo-Addo to be sworn in as Ghana's president on 7 January

Ghanaian president Mahama defeated by former foreign minister Akufo-Addo.

Ghana's main opposition leader Nana Akufo-Addo will be sworn in as president on 7 January after defeating incumbent president John Mahama in the country's national election on 7 December.

Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) beat Mahama of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), by 53.8 per cent to 44.4 per cent, according to Ghana's electoral commission.

The president-elect promises to provide free high-school education and establish factories in each of Ghana's 216 districts. He also pledges to support the country's International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, saying that the NPP will manage national finances better than the outgoing government.

It was a case of third time lucky for the 72-year-old former foreign minister who lost previous elections in 2008 and 2012. After the last election, in 2012, Akufo-Addo unsuccessfully challenged Mahama's 50.7 per cent victory in the courts.

In Ghana, the president is elected using the two-round system, while the 275 members of parliament are elected in single-member constituencies using first-past-the-post voting.