Ghana’s electoral commission declared former president John Dramani Mahama the winner of Saturday’s presidential election, with provisional results showing he received 56.55% of the vote.
His main opponent, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, conceded defeat on Sunday, both in the presidential and legislative elections, to help ease tensions.
The electoral commission reported that votes had been counted from 267 of the country’s 276 constituencies, with a voter turnout of 60.9%. Mahama, who served as president from 2012 to 2016, is making a political comeback. He criticized Bawumia for representing a continuation of policies that contributed to Ghana’s economic crisis.
Speaking to his supporters after the results were announced, Mahama vowed to address bad governance and implement reforms to “reset the nation.”
He also outlined plans to renegotiate Ghana’s $3-billion IMF bailout, ease business regulations, introduce a triple-shift work system, implement tax reforms, and invest in infrastructure modernization.
Ghana’s ongoing economic struggles, including a rising cost of living, played a significant role in the growing demand for leadership change.
