First presidency of John Mahama

Reactions

The non-partisan Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) all declared that the elections were, for the most part, free and fair.^[5] Despite this, there were still widespread allegations of voting irregularities, though these were dismissed as unsubstantiated by the electoral commission chairman. As a result of these claims, the New Patriotic Party immediately rejected the results upon their release^[5] and its candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, remarked that his party's leaders would be meeting on 11 December to consider their options, one of which is to contest the results by lodging an appeal in court.^[6] Violent opposition was however ruled out.^[5]

African Union commission chairman Thomas Boni Yayi flew to Ghana to meet with the two men.^[5] He was also reported to have congratulated Mahama on his victory, and charged him to preside over an all-inclusive government.^[7] Yayi praised the conduct and the participants of the election.^[7]

In anticipation of petitions regarding the election, Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood has established two public complaints secretariats to swiftly process such concerns.^[8] In a statement after being declared the victor, Mahama gave a reconciliatory message, saying "I wish to welcome my fellow candidates to join me now as partners in the project of nation building and of creating a better Ghana".^[9]

Initial ministers before the 2012 general election

All the ministers had appointed by President Mills as part of his government. They continued to serve until January 2013 when his term would have ended. The exception was Henry Kamel, who died after the 7 December election but before the formal handover on 7 January 2013. The ministers were advised to stay on as caretaker ministers until new ones had been confirmed in their place.

Ministers from 2013 to 2017

National affairs

International relations

Iran

See also: Ghana–Iran relations

The Islamic Republic of Iran and the 6th President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met with Mahama on 16 April 2013 to hold discussions with the president on strengthening the Non-Aligned Movement. There was also a bilateral meeting between Ghana and Iran at the Ghanaian presidential palace, the Jubilee House.^{[34][35][36][37][38]} The Government of Ghana was reciprocated with an official state visit on 5 August 2013 by the Vice-President of Ghana, Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, who met with the Vice-President of Iran, Eshaq Jahangiri on the basis of autarky and possible bilateral trade at the Islamic Republic of Iran's presidential palace, Sa'dabad Palace.^{[citation needed]}

Corruption allegations

It was revealed in 2016 that Mahama accepted a Ford Expedition from a construction firm bidding for a lucrative government contract in 2012, while he was serving as vice president. The Burkinabe contractor who had previously constructed a wall at the Ghanaian Embassy in Ouagadougou was at the time looking to get a road-building contract in Ghana's Volta region; this contractor later secured the contract but the vehicle left by the ex president for Government use.^[43][44] Under Mahama's presidency in 2014, massive corruption was discovered at Ghana's Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA). The authority had misappropriated millions of dollars allocated to it. SADA paid GH₵32,498,000 to ACICL, a business owned by Ghana's Roland Agambire, Mahama's close confidante, to plant five million trees in the savannah zone, but could only account for about 700,000 trees. It was also discovered that SADA spent GH¢15 million on guinea fowl, but could only account for a few of the birds.^[45][44] In 2015 it was again discovered that the contract for the rebranding of 116 Metro Mass Transit (MMT) buses at a cost of Gh₵3,600,000 was sole sourced and awarded to a company named "Smarttys," owned by a member of the ruling NDC activist Selassie Ibrahim. It was revealed that the rebranding of the buses cost the government Gh₵3,600,000 which at the time was more than the cost of the 116 buses.^[44]

Coinciding parliamentary elections

The election of Members of Parliament (MPs) to the 7th Parliament of the Fourth Republic was held on 7 December 2016.^[47] The Speaker is not an elected member of parliament though he/she is qualified to stand for election as such. There are a total of 275 constituencies in Ghana. 45 new constituencies were created prior to the 2012 election. The 7th Parliament had its first sitting on Sunday 7 January 2017 shortly after midnight^[48] to elect a Speaker and Deputy Speakers as well as for the administration of oaths to the Speaker and Members of Parliament. Results from 238 constituencies are shown in the table below.^[49]