John Dramani Mahama, Ghana’s former president and main opposition leader, has been officially declared the winner of the country’s recently concluded presidential election. Mahama, aged 66, previously served as Ghana’s president from 2012 to 2016.
The Electoral Commission announced that Mahama secured 56.55% of the vote in Saturday’s election, defeating Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, the ruling party’s candidate. Mahama described Bawumia as a proponent of policies that had plunged Ghana into its worst economic crisis in decades.
Provisional results showed votes from 267 of Ghana’s 276 constituencies had been counted, with voter turnout reported at 60.9%.
Addressing jubilant supporters at his campaign headquarters, Mahama said, “This mandate is a constant reminder of the consequences if we fail to meet the aspirations of our people and govern with humility.”
Ghana is currently grappling with an economic and cost-of-living crisis. The declining popularity of outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration fueled calls for a change in leadership.
“The victory demonstrates that the Ghanaian people have little patience for bad governance,” Mahama stated. He pledged to implement significant reforms, including severe measures to “reset our nation” and rebuild public trust.
In a pre-election interview with Reuters, Mahama indicated plans to renegotiate the terms of Ghana’s $3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout secured last year to address the country’s debt crisis. He also committed to easing business regulations, introducing a 24-hour triple-shift work system, enacting tax reforms, and investing $10 billion in modernizing infrastructure.
Mahama’s victory has been welcomed by many, including his main rival, Bawumia, who conceded defeat on Sunday in both the presidential and legislative elections, helping to maintain calm and stability in the country.
