Accra: Former Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has made a triumphant return to power, winning the presidential election after his opponent, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, conceded defeat on Sunday.

The outcome reflects growing discontent among West African voters grappling with economic challenges such as high inflation, currency depreciation, and widespread financial strain. This shift signals another setback for an incumbent government in a region increasingly favoring political change.

Mahama, 66, who previously served as Ghana’s president from 2012 to 2016, positioned Bawumia as the face of policies that contributed to Ghana’s severe economic crisis—the worst in decades. The nation, a leading cocoa producer and significant gold exporter, secured a $3 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund last year following a default on much of its international debt.

In a message on X, Mahama shared, "This morning, I received a congratulatory call from my brother Dr. Bawumia following my decisive victory in Saturday’s election. Thank you, Ghana."

Bawumia, addressing a press conference from his residence, confirmed his call to Mahama, acknowledging the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had also secured a majority in Parliament. "Our internal collation of results shows former President John Dramani Mahama has won the presidential election decisively," he stated.

To prevent escalating tensions, Bawumia conceded before the Electoral Commission's official announcement. "I made this concession speech to maintain peace and stability in our country, ensuring the global investor community’s trust in Ghana's democratic and peaceful character," he remarked.


Following the concession, jubilant NDC supporters flooded the streets of Accra in celebration. Early results indicated Mahama leading with over 53% of the vote compared to Bawumia's 45.16%, according to provisional tallies from 68 out of 276 constituencies.

At an earlier press conference, Sammy Gyamfi, the NDC’s national spokesperson, announced that provisional data from 38,896 out of 40,976 polling stations gave Mahama a commanding 56% of the vote. Gyamfi also projected the party winning around 185 of the 276 parliamentary seats.

Mahama’s victory underscores a decisive moment in Ghanaian politics as voters demand accountability and leadership change amid mounting economic challenges.