Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ Ghana’s former President John Mahama returns to power following a decisive victory in Saturday’s elections, promising to tackle the country’s economic hardships and rebuild trust in governance. Winning 56.6% of the vote against Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia’s 41.6%, Mahama’s triumph marks the largest margin in 24 years. However, lower voter turnout in New Patriotic Party (NPP) strongholds reflects growing public disillusionment with the previous administration’s performance.
Mahama’s victory, heralded as a “masterclass” in campaigning by political analyst Nansata Yakubu, comes eight years after his initial presidency. The economic struggles under the NPP government—including a cost-of-living crisis and a $3 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF)—helped pave the way for his return. Ghanaians, particularly in strongholds like Tamale, are eager for action to ease “the hardship,” as described by teacher Belinda Amuzu.
Facing enormous economic challenges, Mahama has pledged transformative reforms, including downsizing his cabinet to 60 members, creating a “24-hour economy” with nighttime jobs, and abolishing controversial taxes such as the electronic levy on mobile transactions. He also plans to renegotiate IMF loan conditions to prioritize social programs for the 7.3 million Ghanaians living in poverty.
Despite these ambitious promises, skeptics question their feasibility. Economist Prof. Godfred Bokpin highlights limited fiscal space to execute these plans, urging Mahama to adopt credible leadership and efficient governance. Political analyst Dr. Kwame Asah-Asante underscores the importance of merit-based appointments, which Mahama has signalled by selecting Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as Ghana’s first female vice president—a move praised as substantive rather than symbolic.
Mahama’s campaign emphasized his past achievements in infrastructure, from roads to hospitals. This focus resonated with voters, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which underscored the importance of healthcare infrastructure. Still, Mahama faces the challenge of shedding his reputation as “Mr. Dumsor,” a nickname from his first term’s power outages, as he promises to reduce electricity costs and boost private sector activity.
Corruption remains a critical issue, both from his earlier tenure and the outgoing government. Mahama vowed to establish special courts to prosecute corrupt officials, signaling zero tolerance for financial mismanagement. Analysts like Dr. Asah-Asante urge Mahama to demand transparency during the transition phase to identify and rectify irregularities promptly.
As Mahama prepares to take office next month, he acknowledges the high expectations of Ghanaians. “Our best days are ahead of us,” he assured in his victory speech, setting a tone of optimism and determination. For the millions of Ghanaians pinning their hopes on his leadership, Mahama’s second act is both a challenge and an opportunity to deliver meaningful change.
