Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, the Director of Elections and IT for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has confidently asserted that the party’s internal collation and engineering teams were certain of their victory in the presidential election by 7 p.m. on December 7, 2024.
This early indication of success was based on data collected from around 20,000 polling stations nationwide, revealing a strong trend favoring the NDC.
During an interview, Dr. Boamah elaborated on the intricacies of the internal collation process, emphasizing that although they had not completed the full 85% of the collation at that point, the information gathered already pointed decisively toward an NDC victory. “By 7 p.m., I knew we had won—not because we had collated 85%, but because we had sufficient data from 20,000 polling stations,” he explained. He described how the analytical team was calculating variances for every polling station by comparing the results of former President John Dramani Mahama in the 2020 election against those of his opponent, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who was running in 2024 as the candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The analysis showed a clear divide: Mahama was achieving a positive variance of about 18%, while Bawumia was at a negative variance of -19%. “So on the global subtraction by 7 p.m., we knew that the variance was in our favor,” he said, highlighting the confidence this provided the NDC team.
The party’s expectations were later confirmed when the Electoral Commission announced that John Mahama had secured 56.55% of the total valid votes, outpacing Dr. Bawumia, who garnered 41.61%. This marked a significant return for Mahama, who previously held the presidency before losing in 2016. The victory not only demonstrated the effectiveness of the NDC’s strategies but also reinforced the trust placed in the party by the electorate, who responded positively to its campaign messages and promises.
Dr. Boamah underscored the NDC’s extensive preparation leading up to the election, stating that every detail had been meticulously planned to ensure accurate results. He noted the robustness of the party’s internal systems, including safeguards against any potential disruptions that could have compromised the collation process. “For us at the centre, where the real engine was located—not what was advertised as the call centre with over 100 people responding—the system was foolproof,” he explained. “If anyone had attempted to disrupt our internal collation centre, it would not have affected the outcome, as we had a secondary engineering centre in place as a redundancy measure.”
The speed and efficiency of the NDC’s system played a crucial role in their early confidence, allowing the party to make accurate projections about the results well ahead of the official announcements. Dr. Boamah attributed much of this success to the hard work of the party’s grassroots “soldiers”—the polling agents, ward collation officers, and constituency and regional executives—who ensured transparency and effective supervision at polling stations across the country.
“I wouldn’t say we had a superior system over the NPP, but our system was incredibly fast, and that speed made a significant difference,” he noted. “This may be one advantage of being in opposition—our focus was sharper and our training sessions more frequent. I give full credit to our soldiers on the ground, who worked tirelessly to ensure the process was transparent and that every vote was accounted for.”
Moreover, Dr. Boamah pointed out that the NDC’s internal cohesion and collaboration were pivotal to their success. The party managed to mobilize and train its members effectively, which became evident in the way they executed their strategies on election day. “Our training programs were extensive, ensuring that everyone involved understood their roles and responsibilities,” he said. “This level of preparedness allowed us to respond swiftly and efficiently to any challenges that arose during the voting and collation processes.”
The NDC’s swift and strategic approach not only provided them with an early edge but also showcased the party’s commitment to transparency and accountability—a critical factor that resonated with voters. Dr. Boamah emphasized the importance of these values in building trust with the electorate, which ultimately contributed to their electoral success.
As the NDC transitions into governance, the focus now shifts to fulfilling the promises made during the campaign. The ability of the party to unite its members and rally support from various segments of the populace will be crucial in addressing the challenges that lie ahead. Dr. Boamah’s insights into the electoral process underscore the necessity of preparation, teamwork, and effective use of technology in contemporary political campaigns.
In conclusion, the NDC’s victory in the 2024 presidential election serves as a testament to the party’s strategic planning and execution. The confidence expressed by Dr. Omane Boamah and the success of the internal collation process highlight the significance of an organized and proactive approach to elections in Ghana. The party’s ability to leverage data and analytics effectively has not only changed the game for the NDC but has set a new standard for electoral processes in the country.