ACCRA – Ghana’s vice president and ruling party candidate Mahamudu Bawumia on Sunday admitted defeat to opposition candidate and former president John Dramani Mahama in the West African country’s hotly contested poll . presidential election.

Before the official announcement, Bawumia told journalists that he respected the decision of Ghanaians to vote for change. “I have just called His Excellency John Mahama to congratulate him as the President-elect of the Republic of Ghana,” he said.

Celebrations broke out in parts of the country, including the capital Accra.

The election took place against the backdrop of the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation and is seen as a litmus test for democracy. in a region shaken by extremist violence and coups.

Bawumia was running as standard-bearer for the ruling New Patriotic Party, or NPP, which has struggled to resolve the economic crisis under outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo.

Mahama’s victory is seen as following the latest electoral trend around the world, favoring opposition parties against incumbent candidates, from the United States to European countries – such as Britain and France – as well as the South Africa.

Mahama, 65, served as president of Ghana between July 2012 and January 2017.

During his campaign, Mahama promised to “reset” the country on several fronts and attempted to appeal to young Ghanaians who saw the vote as a a way out of the country’s economic crisis.

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Asadu reported from Abuja, Nigeria