The December 7, 2024, elections in Ghana marked a significant turning point as John Mahama secured another term to lead the nation. John Dramani Mahama, a seasoned politician with a background in history and communications, served as president from 2012 to 2017 and was vice president under John Evans Atta Mills. His victory under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) reflects the electorate’s belief in his leadership amidst Ghana’s current economic challenges.
In an exclusive interview with News Central, David Osabutey, a political analyst and Convener of the Model ECOWAS Summit, shared his insights into why Ghanaians chose to re-elect Mahama and what they expect from his presidency.
Osabutey drew parallels between Ghana’s elections and political dynamics in the United States, saying, “You can compare these elections to the elections of the US. Let’s go back. In the US elections, the conversation was, why is Trump coming back? The American people took the decision to give Trump an opportunity at the presidency because the American people said, look, if we compare the economy under the leadership of Trump to the economy under the leadership of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, we think that the economy under Trump was better.”
Similarly, Osabutey explained Ghana’s decision to bring Mahama back after voting him out in 2016 in favor of President Nana Akufo-Addo. “It is the same conversation in Ghana. We said that, look, the president is corrupt, he’s not competent, he’s incompetent, he’s mismanaged the economy, he has borrowed, things haven’t worked under him. Then Ghana said, we think that looking at the way the economy is going now, then John Mahama is a better candidate than any candidate who is running on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party.”
Electoral Dynamics
Osabutey highlighted the dramatic shift in voter sentiment between 2016 and 2024, noting, “In the 2016 election, John Mahama lost the election by one million votes, but in the 2024 election, John Mahama won the election by over 1.7 million votes.” He also emphasised the NDC’s strong parliamentary majority as a critical factor that will aid Mahama’s administration: “Now, the total number of seats the NDC has won in the next parliament stands at 188, whilst you have the New Patriotic Party doing somewhere around 88. That is a landslide victory.”
Comparing Regimes
Reflecting on Mahama’s earlier tenure, Osabutey remarked, “If you compare the records of the then Mahama administration to the current NPP government, you realise that the John Mahama administration was far, far better. Because the things that the current government accused the then Mahama government of not doing very well, this government came and did terrible things. The corruption, the borrowing, and so on and so forth.”
Economic challenges under the Akufo-Addo administration, including a depreciating cedi and high inflation rates, seem to have played a pivotal role in voters’ decision. Osabutey pointed out, “In 2016 when he was exiting power, I think that the dollar to a cedi was around four cedis to one dollar. As I speak now, the dollar is around 17 cedis, and it has even gone as high as 20, 21 cedis.” On inflation, he noted, “Under this current government, inflation has gone as high as 54 to 56%. So those are some of the things.”
Tackling Unemployment and Reviving the Economy
One of the pressing issues Mahama’s administration is expected to address is unemployment. According to Osabutey, “The current rates of unemployment in Ghana stand at 14, 14.7%. So that means that there’s a high rate of unemployment. And then the next Mahama government will need to find whatever means possible to resolve it.”
Mahama’s campaign promises to revive the economy included plans for a “24-hour economy.” Osabutey elaborated, “The government through its campaign had indicated that they are going to implement what they call a 24-hour economy, where you’re going to have people work in shifts. Some people would go for a morning shift, afternoon shift, and evening shift. Obviously, governments would have to put in place policy and whatever infrastructure for whichever organisations are operating within the 24-hour economy.”
Education and Tax Policies
Education remains another priority for Mahama’s government. While Akufo-Addo’s Free Senior High School policy faced challenges in implementation, Mahama’s administration has promised to expand access to tertiary education. Osabutey explained, “The NDC administration has also promised a free tertiary education, especially for persons who are living in senior high school and going to university. I think it is going to cover your first year—that is your first semester and your second semester.”
In addition to education reforms, Ghanaians expect Mahama to reverse the controversial e-levy and reduce taxes. These measures, alongside improvements to grassroots education and economic policies, will be crucial in restoring public confidence.
Ghanaians have high expectations for John Mahama’s leadership as he inherits an economy beset with inflation, a weakened currency, and high unemployment. While his previous tenure had its shortcomings, many see him as the better alternative to address the challenges facing the country. As Osabutey aptly put it, “Ghana said, we think John Mahama is a better candidate.” Only time will tell how effectively Mahama delivers on these promises.
