John Mahama has been inaugurated for his second term as President of Ghana at a ceremony in Accra, the nation’s capital, attended by around 20 African leaders.
Mahama secured 56% of the votes in the December 9 presidential election, defeating Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, the ruling party candidate, who garnered 41%. He succeeds Nana Akufo-Addo, who completed two terms as president.
“Today should mark the opportunity to reset our country,” the 66-year-old president declared, dressed in Ghana’s traditional attire. Addressing a jubilant crowd clad in the green, red, black, and white colors of his National Democratic Congress (NDC) party, he spoke of renewal and progress.
Accra’s Black Star Square was alive with energy as supporters waved Ghanaian and NDC flags, sang, danced, and celebrated to the rhythmic beats of drums and the sound of vuvuzelas.
Dignitaries in attendance included Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Burkina Faso’s leader Ibrahim Traore, Kenyan President William Ruto, President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Gabon’s Brice Oligui Nguema.
Mahama was sworn in alongside Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, who made history as Ghana’s first female vice president.
A New Era for Ghana
Mahama’s return to the presidency brings an end to eight years of New Patriotic Party (NPP) leadership under Nana Akufo-Addo, whose tenure faced economic challenges, including an IMF bailout and a debt default.
Having previously served as president from 2012 to 2017, Mahama’s third bid for the presidency resonated with voters eager for change and stability.
Crowds at Black Star Square exuded optimism and hope. Akosua Nyarko, a 28-year-old teacher from Cape Coast, expressed her pride: “The energy here is amazing. This is the dawn of a new era!” Mohammed Abubakar, a farmer from Tamale, shared his belief in Mahama’s focus on rural development, saying, “His leadership gives me hope that my children will have a better future.”
A Storied Career
Mahama, a writer and Afrobeat enthusiast, reflected on his transformative experiences during a 1966 military coup in his memoir My First Coup d’Etat. Born in northern Ghana into a privileged family, Mahama’s upbringing shaped his political vision.
He served as a member of parliament and chaired the West Africa Caucus at the Pan-African Parliament.
Ghana’s Political Stability
Known for its political stability, Ghana’s two dominant parties, the NPP and NDC, have alternated in power since 1992. The nation, home to 33 million people, is Africa’s leading gold exporter and the world’s second-largest cocoa producer.
As Ghana embarks on this new chapter under Mahama’s leadership, citizens and observers alike await the changes and developments this administration promises to bring.
