1996 Ghanaian general election

General elections were held in Ghana on 7 December 1996. In the presidential elections, incumbent Jerry Rawlings of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was re-elected in a single round, defeating John Kufuor of the Great Alliance (led by Kufuor's New Patriotic Party) with 57% of the vote. The NDC retained its majority in Parliament, winning 133 of the 200 seats.^[1]

1996 Ghanaian general election

← 1992 7 December 1996 2000 →
Presidential election
Turnout	78.31%
Nominee Jerry Rawlings John Kufuor Party NDC NPP Alliance Progressive Alliance (NDC–EGLE–DPP) Great Alliance (NPP–NCP) Popular vote 4,099,758 2,834,878 Percentage 57.37% 39.67%
Results by region
President before election Jerry Rawlings NDC Elected President Jerry Rawlings NDC

In contrast to the 1992 general elections, these elections were not mired in controversy.^[2][3] In the aftermath of the contentious 1992 elections, several electoral reforms were made with the intent to increase the perceived fairness of the electoral process and put in place measures to prevent fraud.^[2]

Results

President

Candidate		Running mate	Party	Votes	%
	Jerry Rawlings	John Atta Mills	Progressive Alliance (NDC–EGLE–DPP)	4,099,758	57.37
	John Kufuor	Kow Nkensen Arkaah	Great Alliance (NPP–NCP)	2,834,878	39.67
	Edward Mahama	–	People's National Convention	211,136	2.95
Total				7,145,772	100.00
Valid votes				7,145,772	98.34
Invalid/blank votes				120,921	1.66
Total votes				7,266,693	100.00
Registered voters/turnout				9,279,605	78.31
Source: Nohlen et al.

Parliament

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	National Democratic Congress	3,679,985	52.97	133	–56
	New Patriotic Party	2,346,791	33.78	61	New
	People's Convention Party	420,192	6.05	5	New
	People's National Convention	226,643	3.26	1	New
	National Convention Party	51,919	0.75	0	–8
	Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere	6,979	0.10	0	–1
	Democratic People's Party	8,247	0.12	0	New
	Great Consolidated Popular Party	1,485	0.02	0	New
	Independents	205,521	2.96	0	–2
Total		6,947,762	100.00	200	0
Source: Nohlen et al.

See also

• List of MPs elected in the 1996 Ghanaian parliamentary election