John Mahama Returns as Ghana’s President After Eight Years

BREAKING NEWSJanuary 7, 2025 at 11:21 PM UTC

TLDR

John Mahama was inaugurated as Ghana’s president on Tuesday
That marks a return to office after his decisive victory in the December elections
Mahama’s running mate was also sworn in as Ghana’s first female vice president

John Mahama was inaugurated as Ghana’s president on Tuesday, marking a return to office after his decisive victory in the December elections. Mahama, 66, won 56.6% of the vote, defeating ruling-party candidate Mahamudu Bawumia amid widespread discontent over economic hardships and Ghana’s 2022 sovereign debt default.

Mahama’s running mate, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, was also sworn in as Ghana’s first female vice president, reflecting a milestone in the nation’s political history.

His presidency begins at a pivotal moment for Ghana. With an emphasis on economic reform and accountability, his administration must deliver tangible results to regain public trust and restore investor confidence in Africa’s top gold producer.

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Key Takeaways

Mahama faces the urgent task of addressing an economy battered by debt, high inflation, and youth unemployment exceeding 20%. Ghana, once a standout performer in Africa, is recovering from a crisis that led to a $3 billion IMF bailout. Inflation peaked at 54.1% in December 2022 and has remained above 20% for over two years. Mahama’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) holds 183 of 276 parliamentary seats, one short of a two-thirds super-majority. If the party wins a contested constituency where results are being re-collated, it will gain the ability to push its legislative agenda without opposition.

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