Bawumia faces tough challenge from Mahama in Ghana election
- Voters cast ballots in Ghana's presidential and legislative elections, with a notable focus on the struggling economy.
- John Mahama's party claimed he has won the election, despite official results still being tallied.
- The outcome of the election is critically viewed as a pivotal moment for Ghana's democratic integrity amidst economic challenges.
On Saturday, December 7, 2024, voters in Ghana participated in presidential and parliamentary elections amidst a severe economic crisis described as the worst in a generation. Former President John Mahama, the leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), faced off against current Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Economic difficulties, particularly high inflation and public debt, have created public dissatisfaction, leading to a highly competitive election characterizing the political landscape in Ghana. Following the election, the NDC announced that provisional results indicated Mahama's lead over Bawumia with 56.3 percent of the vote compared to Bawumia's 41.3 percent, although official results by the electoral commission were still pending. Violent incidents marred the electoral process, with reports of two fatalities but generally calm voting conditions otherwise. The elections tested Ghana's commitment to democracy, which has a history of peaceful transitions between the two major parties since the return to multi-party politics in 1992, but this year the focus heavily shifted toward economic recovery strategies amidst local and international concerns over governance and economic performance.