Ghana: John Mahama Wins Presidential Election

Facts

• Former Pres. John Mahama claimed victory in Ghana's presidential election Sunday after Vice Pres. Mahamudu Bawumia conceded defeat before the official announcement.^[1]
• Bawumia said Mahama had won the presidency "decisively." Tallies suggest Mahama's National Democratic Congress has also secured a majority in the 275-seat parliament.^[2]
• According to the first official results from 12 of the country's 16 regions, Mahama — who previously led Ghana from 2012 until 2017 — led with around 61% versus 38% for Bawumia.^[3]
• Last week, Deputy Electoral Commissioner Samuel Tettey said that voter turnout was approximately 61%, significantly lower than the 79% recorded in the 2020 election.^[4]
• The election marked a significant milestone, as Mahama became the first president of Ghana's Fourth Republic to reclaim the presidency after being previously voted out of office.^[5][6]
• Ghana's economic crisis, including a debt default in 2022 and subsequent $3B IMF bailout, emerged as the dominant electoral issue driving voters' decisions.^[2][7][8]

Sources: ^[1]CNBC Africa, ^[2]Financial Times, ^[3]BBC News, ^[4]Bloomberg, ^[5]Africa News, ^[6]France 24, ^[7]Al Jazeera and ^[8]CNN.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by The Conversation and Associated Press. Mahama's win isn't a surprise. Economic mismanagement under Pres. Nana Akufo-Addo led to Ghana's worst financial crisis in a generation, with soaring inflation, currency depreciation, and a debt default that led to an International Monetary Fund bailout. Ghana's worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation, illegal gold mining, and environmental degradation forced frustrated voters to look for an alternative.
• Narrative B, as provided by The East African and Al Jazeera. Nana's administration implemented transformative policies, including free education and digital initiatives. It maintained political stability in a volatile region, but external factors like COVID and global economic pressures undermined these achievements. Mahama's previous tenure was marred by a severe energy crisis and corruption scandals. It will be no different this time around.