Ghana Election: Mahama Bounces Back After Three Attempts

Former president John Mahama has bounced back as the Ghana electoral commission is putting finishing touches to announce him as the president-elect after three attempts at the presidency which he lost to incumbent Nana Akufo-Ado eight years ago.

Already the ruling New Patriotic Party candidate, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, conceded defeat to former President John Mahama in the country’s presidential election on Sunday, after failing to overcome widespread frustration over the struggling economy.

The defeat in Saturday’s election marked the end of two terms in power for the NPP under President Nana Akufo-Addo, characterised by Ghana’s worst economic crisis in years, high inflation, and debt default.

“The people of Ghana have spoken and they have voted for change at this time. We respect this with all humility,” Bawumia said at a press conference.

Bawumia confirmed that he had called his opponent, Mahama — the National Democratic Congress candidate and former president — to congratulate him.

With blaring horns and cheering, Mahama supporters had already begun gathering to celebrate outside the party’s campaign headquarters in Accra.

On his X account, Mahama confirmed that he had received Bawumia’s congratulatory call over his “emphatic victory.”

The Vice President acknowledged that Mahama had won the presidency “decisively,” and that Mahama’s NDC party had also won the country’s parliamentary election, according to the NPP’s internal vote tally.

Ghana’s economic troubles were the central issue in the election, following a crisis of default and currency devaluation that resulted in a $3 billion International Monetary Fund bailout.

Earlier, NDC spokesman Sammy Gyamfi told reporters that the party’s internal review of results showed Mahama won 56.3 per cent of the vote, compared to Bawumia’s 41.3 per cent.

“It is very clear that the people of this country have voted for change,” Gyamfi said.

Political parties had agents at polling stations to observe and tally the initial vote counts before the ballots were sent for official collation by the election commission.

Earlier, Commission Deputy Commissioner Bossman Asare told reporters that regional results had yet to arrive at the national centre.

The commission had said the official results were likely to be announced by Tuesday.

With a history of democratic stability, Ghana’s two main parties, the NPP and NDC, have alternated in power since the return to multi-party politics in 1992.

Under the slogan “Break the 8” — a reference to two terms in power — Bawumia had sought to lead the NPP to an unprecedented third term. However, he struggled to overcome criticism of Akufo-Addo’s economic record.

Although inflation slowed from more than 50 per cent to around 23 per cent and other macroeconomic indicators stabilised, economic struggles remained a key issue for many voters.

This frustration paved the way for Mahama’s comeback challenge. Mahama, who served as president from 2012 to 2017, had previously failed in two presidential bids.

AFP