Blitz Bureau
ACCRA: Ghana’s former President John Mahama will be under enormous pressure to meet the expectations of voters following his landslide victory in election, said a BBC report. Mahama swept back to power after eight years in opposition, running what political analyst Nansata Yakubu described as a “masterclass” in campaigning.
He defeated Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia by 56.6 per cent of votes to 41.6 per cent to notch up the biggest margin of victory by a candidate in 24 years. As Mahama’s supporters celebrated his victory, Belinda Amuzu – a teacher in the northern city of Tamale, a stronghold of Mahama – summed up their hopes.
“I’m expecting the new Government to change the economy, so that the hardship will come down. He should also prosecute corrupt officials so that it will be a lesson to others,” she told the BBC.
“The hardship” has become a common phrase in Ghana since the economy hit rock-bottom in 2022, causing a cost-of-living crisis that shredded Bawumia’s reputation as an ‘economic whizz-kid’ and led to his defeat at the hands of Mahama. Ghanaian economist Prof Godfred Bokpin told the BBC the challenges facing the next government were huge. “What Ghana needs right now is credible leadership, lean Government and efficiency in public service delivery. Without that, there cannot be a future,” he said.
Mahama has promised to bring down the size of the Cabinet from more than 80 to around 60, but Prof Bokpin argued it should be even smaller while political analyst Dr Kwame Asah-Asante stressed the need for appointments to be on merit rather than loyalty.
