John Mahama declares 2024 presidential bid
Ghana’s former president John Dramani Mahama, a leading figure in the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election, in what could be his last attempt to win the country’s top political job. Mahama, who has twice failed to defeat the incumbent Nana Akufo-Addo of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), made the declaration on Monday after securing the endorsement of all NDC lawmakers in Parliament.
The move was widely expected, as Mahama had been building up momentum for his comeback bid since he lost the 2020 election by a narrow margin. He is a popular figure in the NDC and enjoys a strong following among ordinary Ghanaians, especially in the north of the country where he comes from. However, he also faces some challenges, including a strong factionalism within the NDC, as well as the task of convincing swing voters that he has a compelling vision for Ghana’s future.
Mahama is likely to face a tough challenge from within his party, as several other candidates, including Dr Kwabena Duffuor, a former Governor of the Bank of Ghana and Finance Minister, have expressed interest in contesting the NDC primaries. However, Mahama’s position is significantly strengthened by the fact that he has won the support of influential party stalwarts and interest groups, including constituency chairmen, youth groups, and labour unions.
The latest endorsement came from the Motor Riders Union, True Drivers Union, Concerned Drivers Union and Abossey Okai Spare-part Dealers Association, which presented a petition to Mahama urging him to run for the presidency. In a show of confidence, the unions claimed that Mahama is “the finest person to address the nation’s current economic problems”. This view was echoed by the NDC Greater Accra Chairmen Caucus, which declared that Mahama is the only person who can “lead and win the elections for the NDC in 2024”.
Despite the enthusiastic support of his followers, Mahama faces several formidable challenges in his quest to reclaim the presidency. One of the most pressing issues is the country’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has taken a heavy toll on Ghana’s growth prospects and social welfare. Ghana’s economy shrank by 1.1% in 2020, the first contraction in nearly four decades, and the government’s efforts to revive the economy have been hindered by high public debt, rising inflation, and persistent energy shortages.
Mahama is expected to focus his campaign on these and other economic issues, as well as on the need for good governance, social justice, and national unity. He is also likely to highlight his track record as president from 2012 to 2016, during which he initiated several development projects in areas such as infrastructure, education, and health. However, his critics point to some of his administration’s failures, including corruption scandals, energy crises, and a general sense of policy drift.
The 2024 election promises to be one of the most closely contested in Ghana’s history, as both the NDC and the NPP are gearing up for a tough battle. The NPP is expected to field Akufo-Addo for a third term, although there are some rumours that he may retire from politics due to health concerns. If Akufo-Addo decides not to run, the NPP is likely to pick a candidate from among his loyalists, which could alter the dynamics of the race. The NDC, on the other hand, faces a delicate balancing act between unity and diversity, as it seeks to reconcile different factions and interests behind Mahama’s candidacy.
