Ghana’s former president wins historic comeback election victory
Ex-president John Dramani Mahama returns on promise to lead country out of economic woes
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Ghana’s former president John Dramani Mahama is set to make a stunning political comeback after the vice president conceded defeat in the presidential election overshadowed by concerns of a burgeoning economic crisis.
Former vice president Mahamudu Bawumia who was running for the top job conceded the defeat on Sunday even as no official results were declared.
"The people have voted for change," said Mr Bawumia, adding “Mahama has won the presidential election decisively.”
Mr Mahama, 65, who has a political career spanning over three decades in the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) party was the country’s president from 2012 to 2017.
His election victory ended the governing New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) eight-years-long grip on power, which was marked by the worst economic crisis in the West African state in recent years with a high cost of living and a debt default.
Mr Mahama called it an “emphatic victory” in a social media post as he confirmed he received a call from his NPP rival Mr Bawumia, who said he called him to congratulate him.
“ I have, this morning, received a congratulatory call from my brother Dr @MBawumia, following my emphatic victory in Saturday’s election. Thank you, Ghana,” he said.
Supporters of Mr Mahama broke into celebration following the announcement as many hit the streets waving flags, blaring horns and cheering outside the party campaign headquarters in the capital of Accra.
Mr Mahama had won 56 per cent of the vote against 41 per cent for Mr Bawumia, the NDC earlier said, according to its internal results.
The election for both the president and members of parliament was held against the backdrop of the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
It was seen as a litmus test for democracy in a region shaken by extremist violence and coups. West Africa’s regional bloc of ECOWAS said the election was generally peaceful, a continuing trend in Ghana.
Mr Bawumia, a UK-trained economist, struggled to resolve the economic crisis under outgoing President Akufo-Addo.
During the campaign trial, Mr Mahama promised to turn Ghana into a "24-hour economy" and said the election as a “defining moment” for Ghana.
The former president is “the only person” who can fix the ailing economy in Ghana, one of West Africa’s economic powerhouses, said Jude Agbemava, a policy analyst who voted for him.
Additional reporting by agencies
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments