Ghana's ruling party candidate, Mahamudu Bawumia, concedes defeat to John Mahama

Ghana’s Vice President and ruling party candidate, Mahamudu Bawumia, has admitted defeat in the presidential election held on December 7, 2024. He acknowledged that the people of Ghana voted for change, ending the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) two-term rule under President Nana Akufo-Addo.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Bawumia stated, “The people of Ghana have spoken, and they have voted for change at this time. We respect this with all humility.”

He confirmed calling John Mahama, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate and former president, to congratulate him on his victory. On social media platform X, Mahama shared that he had received the call acknowledging his “emphatic victory.”

Celebrations began among Mahama’s supporters, with crowds gathering at the NDC campaign headquarters in Accra. According to Sammy Gyamfi, an NDC spokesperson, Mahama secured 56.3% of the votes compared to Bawumia’s 41.3%, based on the party’s internal review.

“It is very clear that the people of this country have voted for change,” Gyamfi noted.

Ghana’s Election Commission is expected to announce the official results by Tuesday, although regional tallies are still being processed. Political party agents monitored the vote counts at polling stations before they were sent for final collation.

The election campaign was heavily influenced by economic challenges in Ghana, including high inflation, debt issues, and a currency devaluation crisis that necessitated a $3 billion International Monetary Fund bailout. Despite some economic recovery, frustration among voters remained strong, which worked in Mahama’s favor.

Bawumia’s bid for a third consecutive term for the NPP under the “Break the 8” slogan faced significant criticism over the current administration’s economic record. While inflation dropped from over 50% to around 23% and some economic stability returned, voters were still dissatisfied.

John Mahama’s return to power marks a significant political shift, with the NDC also securing victory in the parliamentary elections, according to the NPP’s internal tallies. This victory highlights the alternating dominance of the NDC and NPP in Ghana’s politics since 1992.