Ghana’s former president, John Dramani Mahama, is set to return to office after ruling party candidate Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia conceded defeat in the presidential election on Sunday. The election, seen as a referendum on the government’s handling of the economy, highlighted widespread voter dissatisfaction amid the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
In a statement at his residence in Accra, Bawumia acknowledged the outcome and congratulated Mahama. “I’ve just called His Excellency John Mahama to congratulate him as president-elect of the Republic of Ghana,” he said.
Mahama, 65, who previously served as president between 2012 and 2017, celebrated the victory in a post on the X platform, describing the win as “emphatic.” During his campaign, Mahama pledged to “reset” the nation with a focus on economic recovery, a promise that resonated with young voters eager for change.
The announcement of Mahama’s victory triggered celebrations across the country, including in the capital, Accra. Supporters of Mahama’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) donned the party’s white, green, red, and black colors while dancing, playing music, and parading in the streets.
The election for both the presidency and parliament was conducted peacefully, maintaining Ghana’s reputation as a stable democracy in a region marked by political unrest and coups. The West African regional bloc ECOWAS commended the process, describing it as generally peaceful.
Bawumia, representing the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), faced criticism over the government’s failure to address the ongoing economic crisis under outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo. Alongside Mahama’s presidential victory, his NDC party secured a majority in parliament, giving the opposition a stronger mandate to address the country’s challenges.
Mahama’s return to office offers hope for economic reform and political stability as Ghana seeks solutions to its pressing financial woes.