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John Mahama Returns to Power in Ghana; Bawumia Concedes, First Female Vice President Elected

Dec 8, 2024, 11:07 AM

Former Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has won the country's presidential election, becoming the first former president to return to power after losing office. Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia conceded defeat on Sunday, acknowledging the will of the voters. Mahama's running mate, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, will become Ghana's first female vice president. The election, held on December 7, 2024, saw 18.7 million registered voters casting ballots amid economic hardships, including a debt default, high inflation, a declining cedi, and negotiations for a $3 billion IMF bailout. Mahama's National Democratic Congress (NDC) also secured a landslide victory in the parliamentary elections. A gunshot incident at a polling station in Tamale resulted in one death, but overall the election was conducted peacefully, demonstrating Ghana's democratic maturity in a region often troubled by political violence and coups. Outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo stepped down after serving two terms as mandated by the constitution.