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Claim: Viral Facebook posts claim that former President John Dramani Mahama secured 34.4% in Ghana’s 2016 presidential election, while Nana Akufo-Addo obtained 53.79%, allegedly based on Electoral Commission-gazetted results.
Verdict: False! Official results released by the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana show that John Mahama obtained 44.40% of valid votes cast in the 2016 presidential election, not 34.4%. Nana Akufo-Addo officially secured 53.85%, not 53.79%.
Full Text
A viral graphic circulating on Facebook claims to show the “2016 Final Presidential Results Gazetted By The Electoral Commission Of Ghana.”
The image displays the following figures:
• John Dramani Mahama (NDC) – 34.4%
• Nana Akufo-Addo (NPP) – 53.79%
DUBAWA traced one of the widely circulated versions of the image to a Facebook account identified as Alhassan Kwaanawuli, which shared the post on May 3, 2025, at 2:12 AM.
The post carried the caption:
“I’ve decided to share this after coming across it, noting that 38% is indeed better than their 34%, which contrasts with the NDC’s apparent bluff that 34% surpasses 38%.”
At the time DUBAWA reviewed the post, it had generated 299 reactions, 52 comments, and 59 shares.
The post triggered extensive engagement, with several Facebook users debating the authenticity and mathematical accuracy of the election figures shown in the image.
DUBAWA also identified another Facebook account, Chingala Yaw, which later reposted the same image on December 28, 2025.
That post was accompanied by the caption: “This is the result of our Mahama.” The post garnered 46 reactions, 47 comments, and 27 shares.
The graphic was presented in both posts as an official Electoral Commission gazette, prompting DUBAWA to verify whether the percentages matched Ghana’s certified 2016 presidential election results.
Verification
DUBAWA reviewed official Electoral Commission records and reports published by credible Ghanaian media organisations.
Checks show that the figures in the viral image are inaccurate.
Official presidential election results declared by the Electoral Commission on December 9, 2016, showed that Nana Akufo-Addo won the election with 5,716,026 votes representing 53.85%, while John Dramani Mahama secured 4,713,277 votes representing 44.40%.
Also, MyJoyOnline reported the Electoral Commission’s declaration confirming Akufo-Addo’s victory with 53.85% against Mahama’s 44.40%.
Similarly, Graphic Online published the Electoral Commission-certified results showing:
• Nana Akufo-Addo – 53.85%
• John Mahama – 44.40%
• Papa Kwesi Nduom – 1.00%
• Ivor Greenstreet – 0.24%
• Edward Mahama – 0.21%
• Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings – 0.16%
• Jacob Osei Yeboah – 0.15%
DUBAWA also reviewed reports published by Africanews and other credible news platforms covering the 2016 election declaration. None reported Mahama’s vote share as 34.4%.
The investigation found that the viral graphic:
• Reduces Mahama’s official percentage from 44.40% to 34.4%
• Slightly alters Akufo-Addo’s official percentage from 53.85% to 53.79%
• Mimics the appearance of an official Electoral Commission publication despite containing inaccurate data
No official Electoral Commission gazette reviewed by DUBAWA contains the percentages displayed in the viral image.
Important Context About Ghana’s 2016 Election
Ghana’s 2016 presidential election marked one of the country’s most significant democratic transitions under the Fourth Republic.
According to Electoral Commission data:
• Total valid votes cast exceeded 10.6 million
• Voter turnout stood at approximately 68.62%
• Akufo-Addo defeated incumbent President Mahama by more than one million votes
Following the declaration of results, Mahama conceded defeat and congratulated Akufo-Addo, a move widely praised internationally as a sign of Ghana’s democratic stability.
Subsequent constituency tallies, later slightly adjusted the percentages to approximately:
• Akufo-Addo – 53.72%
• Mahama – 44.53%
However, none of the official Electoral Commission tallies supports the claim that Mahama secured 34.4%.
Conclusion
The claim that John Mahama obtained 34.4% in Ghana’s 2016 presidential election is false. Official Electoral Commission results and credible Ghanaian media reports confirm that Mahama secured 44.40% of valid votes cast while Akufo-Addo obtained 53.85%.
