Ghana’s former President Mahama set to return to power after ruling party concedes early

ACCRA, Ghana

Ghana’s former president, John Dramani Mahama, is set to return to office after Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia conceded defeat in Saturday’s elections.

Bawumia, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, conceded defeat on Sunday morning, citing projections from his party’s collation center, though the country’s Electoral Commission has yet to officially announce the final results.

“Per data from our collation room, former President John Mahama has won the election,” Bawumia said during his concession speech. “I have just called His Excellency John Dramani Mahama to congratulate him as President-elect of the Republic of Ghana,” he said, acknowledging the electorate’s desire for change and pledging to help ensure a smooth transition of the government.

Mahama, representing the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), confirmed the call, stating, “I have, this morning, received a congratulatory call from my brother Dr. Bawumia, following my emphatic victory in Saturday’s election.”

The NDC is projected to receive approximately 52.7% of the presidential vote, compared to Bawumia’s 40.1%, and the party will also win a parliamentary majority. NDC Communications Director Sammy Gyamfi said the party had won more than 185 of the 276 parliamentary seats.

This result aligns with pre-election predictions, including a Global InfoAnalytics survey conducted in late October that projected Mahama’s decisive victory. The outcome reflects voter dissatisfaction with the NPP’s economic management, which has resulted in rising inflation, a depreciating currency, and high debt.

The elections were not without incidents. Local media reported four fatalities linked to electoral violence, reminiscent of Ghana’s 2020 elections, which saw eight deaths amid disputes involving security forces accused of bias.

Despite these challenges, the Electoral Commission has maintained its commitment to transparency, promising timely results from district collation centers. The official presidential results are expected by Tuesday.

Mahama’s return to office marks a significant shift in politics in the West African country, with voters seeking change amid the country’s worst economic crisis in decades.

• Ghana
• John Dramani Mahama
• Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia