Ghana’s opposition leader and former president, John Dramani Mahama, is currently favored to win the country’s December 7 presidential election, according to a new poll by Accra-based Global InfoAnalytics. The poll places Mahama at 52%, ahead of his primary opponent, Vice President Muhamudu Bawumia of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), who stands at 41.3%, with a margin of error of 1.9%.
Mahama, representing the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), previously served as Ghana’s president from 2012 to 2017, a period marked by substantial infrastructure development yet shadowed by economic challenges and power shortages. He faces Bawumia, an economist and former central banker, who is running to continue the legacy of President Nana Akufo-Addo, who will step down in January after completing two terms.
Both candidates bring significant experience to the table, but voters are expressing concerns over pressing economic issues, including job scarcity, education, and infrastructure. Bawumia’s party has faced criticism over the recent economic crisis, which led Ghana, Africa’s second-largest cocoa producer, to default on $30 billion in external debt in 2022. The Akufo-Addo administration negotiated a $3 billion International Monetary Fund bailout in 2023 to stabilize the economy, though the effects of austerity have fueled voter discontent.
Analysts predict a tight race, as the NPP has gained traction in northern Ghana, an NDC stronghold and home region to both candidates. Political analyst Alidu Seidu of the University of Ghana remarked that the race is likely to be highly competitive, with each side vying for support amid Ghana’s challenging economic landscape.