Introduction
John Mahama was, on the 7th January, 2025, sworn into office as the 6th President of the 4th Republic of Ghana. John Mahama won 56.42% of the vote in the General election held on 7th December, 2024 defeating the ruling party candidate and then Vice President Dr. Mahmoud Bawumia who garnered 41.75% of the total votes.
Political and Historical Dynamics
Mahama takes over from former President Nana Akufo – Addo to whom he handed over power 8 years ago. His return to the seat of government is historic as he becomes the first President to return to power to serve a one term after becoming the only sitting President also to lose a re-election bid in 2016.
John Mahama started his political career as a Member of Parliament, then to a Deputy Minister and Minister of Communication. He became Vice President to the late Prof. John Evans Atta Mills and assumed office as President upon the demise of Prof. Mills in July 2012 whereafter he won elections in 2013 and served one term.
This occasion was also historic because Ghana, for the first time swore in its first female Vice President, Prof. Jame Naana Opoku Agyemang who has used the opportunity to express that although she may be the first through the door, she will hold it open for others. This ceiling breaking achievement is a very good motivation for all young girls across the country that they can dream too and aspire to great heights.
In attendance at the inaugural ceremony in Accra were around 20 African leaders including Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Burkina Faso’s leader Ibrahim Traore, Kenyan President William Ruto and some business magnates on the continent such as Aliko Dangote and Tony Elumelu.
A Promise to Reset
President Mahama campaigned on a promise of resetting Ghana. The West African country currently finds itself in economic turmoil, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) Bailout, high taxes, saddled by huge debt and high unemployment rate. In his inaugural address at the Black Star Square, he stated that “today should mark the opportunity to reset our country.”
His address focused on economic recovery, inclusive leadership, decisive action, bold solutions, a call to the citizenry for cooperation and working to strengthen ties with neighbours. He has promised to investigate corrupt acts, deliver on his promise to create more decent jobs through the much-propagated policy of the 24hr economy, and to run the leanest government in the 4th Republic with no more than 60 ministers.
The President also signalled to the international community that Ghana was open to business once again.
A Renewed Sense of Hope
In his first few days in office, the new President has cut down ministries in the civil service from 30 to 23 in an attempt to run an efficient government and reduce expenditure. President Mahama seems to be a man in a hurry to overturn the fortunes of Ghana and many have viewed his first acts as a man who has learnt from his past experience and is mindful that Ghanaians will punish bad governance. There is a renewed sense of hope following his clarion call to the citizens to be hopeful and join in the work of nation building despite the acknowledgement of the enormous task that lay ahead. The next 4 years will be crucial not only to determine the success of his presidency but more importantly to see how Ghana will be transformed and the role the country will play in the sub-region, the African continent and beyond.
