Ghana’s former president, John Dramani Mahama, has made a historic comeback, winning the presidential election after voters rejected the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) over its management of the country’s economic crisis. Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP candidate, conceded defeat on Sunday, despite ongoing official vote tallying. Bawumia’s concession is based on preliminary results which indicate that Mahama garnered 56.3% of votes against his 41.3%. Mahama, who led the West African country from 2012 to 2017, had attempted to reclaim leadership in 2016 and 2020. His win, on his third attempt, reflects Ghanaians’ widespread frustration with high inflation and a debt crisis under outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo’s eight-year tenure. Economic challenges, including currency devaluation, dominated the election, as Mahama leveraged public discontent despite criticism of his own past governance. Ghana’s electoral commission is expected to release official results by Tuesday.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN