Mahama, Ghana’s opposition leader, returns as president

Former President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama has won Ghana’s 2024 presidential election.

Diaspora Digital Media can confirm that he polled 51% cast to defeat his closest rival and presidential “anointed” candidate Muhammadu Bawumia who garnered 47.2% of the votes counted.

Muhammadu Bawumia contested on the platform of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Mahama, who is Ghana’s main opposition leader, contested under National Democratic Congress (NDC).

He had earlier tried twice to return to power until he won at yesterday’s poll.

Mahama’s main challenger and government candidate, Vice President Bawumia of the ruling New Patriotic Party, NPP, had this afternoon conceded defeat and congratulated the President -elect in a press conference he held in Accra, Ghana..

John Mahama is 66 years old. He served as President of Ghana from 2012 to 2017.

At his campaign, he promised to reset Ghana, renegotiate parts of the IMF deal and introduce a “24-hour” economy to create jobs, a major concern for many younger voters.

Bawumia told the Press: “Let me say that the data from our own internal collation of the election results indicate that former President John Dramani Mahama has won the Presidential election decisively,”

“The NDC has also won the parliamentary election. Even though we await final collation of a number of seats, I believe ultimately these will not change the outcome.

“I am making this concession speech before the official announcement by the Electoral Commission to avoid further tension and preserve the peace of our country.

“It is important that the world investor community continues to believe in the peaceful and democratic character of Ghana,” he added.

“The people have voted for change at this time, and we respect that decision with all humility.”

Ruling party concedes defeat

Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, the ruling party’s presidential candidate, has conceded defeat in Ghana’s 2024 elections and congratulated former President John Mahama.

In a concession speech delivered on Sunday, Mr Bawumia, the candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), stated that internal data from his party indicates that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has secured victory in both the presidential and parliamentary polls.

The collation process is still ongoing across the country, but tension has been building since, as officials of both parties have been making inflammatory comments through press briefings. This concession speech more or less quelled the tension.

“Let me say that the data from our own internal collation of the election results indicate that former President John Dramani Mahama has won the presidential election decisively,” Mr Bawumia said.

“The NDC has also won the parliamentary election. Even though we await final collation of a number of seats, I believe ultimately these will not change the outcome.”

“I am making this concession speech before the official announcement by the Electoral Commission to avoid further tension and preserve the peace of our country,” he added.

NDC Candidate Muhammadu Bawumia has conceded defeat in Ghana

While thanking his supporters and party members, he added that the business community needs to see Ghana as a peaceful country.

“It is important that the world investor community continues to believe in the peaceful and democratic character of Ghana,” he added.

“The people have voted for change at this time, and we respect that decision with all humility.”

Mr Mahama has successfully staged a comeback after two consecutive defeats.

He lost the elections in 2016 and 2020.

Aside from Mr Mahama’s return, Ghana is on course to have its first female vice-president. Jane Opoku-Agyemang, a 73-year-old former Minister of Education, is on the verge of making history.

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