By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Humans of AfricaHumans of AfricaHumans of Africa
  • Home
  • News
  • Features
  • Obituaries
Search
© 2023 | Humans of Africa
Font ResizerAa
Humans of AfricaHumans of Africa
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • Home
  • News
  • Features
  • Obituaries
Follow US
© 2023 | Humans of Africa
News

Victorious John Mahama promises new beginning for Ghana

By Favour Nunoo, Danai Nesta Kupemba & Natasha Booty Published March 8, 2025
4 Min Read
Supporters of John Mahama have taken to the streets across the country to celebrate his victory
SHARE

Ghana’s opposition candidate and former President John Mahama has promised “a new beginning, a new direction” for the country after being officially declared the winner of Saturday’s presidential election.

Mahama won with 56.6% against 41.6% for Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia. It is the biggest margin of victory in the country for 24 years.

Voter turnout was 60.9%, said the head of Ghana’s electoral commission, Jean Mensa.

Mahama said he felt “humbled” that he and his National Democratic Congress (NDC) had “chalked one of the best results in the electoral history of Ghana”.

He also noted that Ghana had “made history” by choosing its first female Vice-President, Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang.

And he thanked Bawumia for conceding, which he did long before the official announcement of the results.

The vice-president said he was doing so “to avoid further tension and preserve the peace of our country”.

Nevertheless, there was still some frustration that it took so long to announce the official results.

President Nana Akufo-Addo is stepping down after reaching the official limit of two terms in office.

This election comes amid the worst economic crisis in a generation.

Unemployment, the cost of living and concerns over the environmental impact of illegal gold mining, known as “galmasey”, were among the key issues.

With many Ghanaians desperate for a change, Mahama won several regions – including Bono, Ahafo, Western, and Central – which the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) had won in 2020.

Since Bawumia’s concession on Sunday, Mahama’s supporters have been celebrating across the country.

People have been cheering, waving flags, blowing horns and spinning motorbikes.

“I’m so excited for this victory,” Salifu Abdul-Fatawu told the BBC in the central city of Kumasi.

He said he hoped it would mean that he and his sibling would get jobs, while the price of food and fuel would come down.

Although the election was generally peaceful, two people were shot dead on Saturday in separate incidents.

The electoral commission office in the northern town of Damongo was also destroyed, allegedly by NDC supporters angry at the delays in announcing the results.

Mahama, 65, previously led Ghana from 2012 until 2017, when he was replaced by Akufo-Addo. Mahama also lost the 2020 election so this victory represents a stunning comeback.

Mahama’s NDC and the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) have alternated in power since the return of multi-party politics to Ghana in 1992.

No party has ever won more than two consecutive terms in power – a trend that looks set to continue.

Mahama’s previous time in office was marred by an ailing economy, frequent power-cuts and corruption scandals.

However, Ghanaians hope it will be different this time round.

During the campaign, Mahama promised to transform Ghana into a “24-hour economy”.

The new president will be sworn in on 7 January 2025.

Additional reporting by the BBC’s Komla Adom in Kumasi.

Ghana election: Jubilant Mahama supporters celebrate elections results

TAGGED:AfricaGhanaGhana 2024 electionsJohn Mahama

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
[mc4wp_form]
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Flipboard Whatsapp Whatsapp Reddit Telegram Email
Previous Article French court finds author guilty of downplaying Rwandan genocide
Next Article Zambia’s ex-President Lungu barred from seeking re-election
Leave a comment Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Most Popular

Ricci Ossei - Humans of Africa
Ricci Osei: A cultural and artistic icon
Obituaries
Former refugee donates his entire maize harvest to Ukrainians
Features
Nigeria’s ‘Mr Flag Man’ waited a year to be buried
News
Trailblazing ballerina Michaela DePrince dies aged 29
News
James Earl Jones, Whose Powerful Acting Resonated Onstage and Onscreen, Dies at 93
News
The children bearing the brunt of the mpox outbreak
Features
Rwanda genocide: My return home after 30 years
Features
Sudan conflict: A front-row seat to my country falling apart
Features
Nigerian, Helen Williams sets record for longest wig
News
Fake CV lands top ‘engineer’ in jail for 15 years
News
Follow US
© 2024 | Humans of Africa
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account