Bawumia and Mahama
By Ayo Kehinde
In a historic political moment, Mahamudu Bawumia, the ruling New Patriotic Party presidential candidate, has conceded defeat to opposition leader and former President John Dramani Mahama in Ghana’s tightly contested presidential election.
Addressing a news conference on Sunday, Bawumia acknowledged the electorate’s decision ahead of the official announcement of the results by the Electoral Commission.
“The people of Ghana have spoken; they have voted for change at this time, and we respect their decision with all humility,” Bawumia said.
The outgoing vice president revealed that he had called his rival, John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress to congratulate him on his victory.
“I’ve just called His Excellency John Mahama to congratulate him as president-elect of the Republic of Ghana,” he added, describing Mahama’s win as decisive.
The concession signals a remarkable political comeback for Mahama, who had previously lost two consecutive elections to President Nana Akufo-Addo.
Mahama, 65, confirmed the congratulatory call from Bawumia on his X (formerly Twitter) account, celebrating his “emphatic victory.”
Bawumia also disclosed that the NDC had not only secured the presidency but had also won a majority in the parliamentary election, based on the NPP’s internal tally of votes.
The announcement sparked widespread celebrations across the country, particularly in the capital city, Accra, where jubilant supporters of the NDC poured into the streets to mark their leader’s victory.
Mahama, who served as Ghana’s president between July 2012 and January 2017, had campaigned on a platform of economic recovery and renewal.
His message resonated with young Ghanaians, who saw the election as an opportunity to address the country’s pressing economic challenges.
His victory is seen as a pivotal moment for Ghana, as he promised during his campaign to “reset” the country on various fronts, including the economy, governance, and youth empowerment.
