Former President John Dramani Mahama is set to return to Jubilee House on January 7, 2025, after landslide victory in the 2024 presidential election held last Saturday.
This marks a historic comeback for Mahama, who previously served as Ghana’s President from 2013 to 2017.
NPP, NDC internal results confirm victory
Internal collation by both the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) confirms Mahama as the President-Elect.
Although the Electoral Commission (EC) is yet to officially declare the results, Vice-President and NPP Presidential Candidate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia conceded defeat.
“Ghana has won,” Dr. Bawumia stated during an address to the nation, revealing that he had called Mahama to congratulate him.
The NPP’s internal collation also indicated an overwhelming victory for the NDC, solidifying Mahama’s return to power.
Commitment to peace and democracy
Dr. Bawumia emphasized that his decision to concede was driven by a commitment to peace and the stability of Ghana.
“It is important that the well-invested community continues to believe in the peaceful and democratic character of Ghana,” he said.
Similarly, President-Elect Mahama acknowledged Bawumia’s gesture, sharing on social media, “I have, this morning, received a congratulatory call from my brother Dr. @MBawumia, following my emphatic victory in Saturday’s election. Thank you, Ghana.”
Election day violence and delays
Despite a generally peaceful election, incidents of violence were reported in some parts of the country.
Two individuals were killed in Nyankpala during an election dispute, while the EC office in Damongo was vandalized by angry NDC supporters frustrated with delays in result announcements. Warehouses in Damongo and Tamale were also looted.
These isolated incidents did not overshadow the jubilant celebrations of NDC supporters nationwide, who flooded the streets to mark their party’s victory.
A historic return for Mahama
At 65 years old, Presiden-Elect Mahama’s victory solidifies his position as one of Ghana’s most enduring political figures.
Starting as Vice-President under the late John Evans Atta Mills, he became President in 2012 following Mills’ death and went on to win the subsequent election.
After losing his reelection bid in 2016 and another attempt in 2020, President-Elect Mahama’s 2024 victory is a testament to his resilience in Ghanaian politics.
Democratic milestone for Ghana
Ghana’s ninth general election since the return to multiparty democracy in 1992 saw over 18.6 million registered voters participating.
This will be the fourth time an incumbent government hands over power to the opposition, underscoring Ghana’s strong democratic tradition.
No political party in Ghana has won more than two consecutive terms in power, a trend that continues with Mahama’s return.
His leadership will mark another chapter in the alternating power dynamic between the NDC and the NPP, the two dominant political parties in Ghana.
As Ghana prepares for the transition, the focus now shifts to unity and governance, with Mahama poised to lead the nation into its next phase of development.
