In Ghana, the leading political party participated in a significant vote to determine its presidential candidate for next year’s critical election. Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, who is expected to succeed President Nana Akufo-Addo, appears well-positioned for victory.
The nation, one of Africa’s larger economies and a key player in West Africa, is currently grappling with its most severe economic crisis in many years, a situation expected to be at the forefront of the election campaign’s discourse leading up to the crucial December 2024 vote.
Bawumia, who previously held the position of deputy governor at the nation’s central bank, is broadly backed by polling experts as the likely successor to garner the New Patriotic Party (NPP) nomination. The potential adversary in the presidential contest is former president John Dramani Mahama whom he would confront as the National Democratic Congress adversary.
In an interaction with the media, Bawumia declared, “I am committed to the unity of the NPP, and I as the party’s flagbearer will bring everybody on board.” He expressed faith in his popularity with grassroots more than the establishment.
His primary challenger, Kennedy Agyapong, also exuded confidence going into Saturday’s primaries, looking to capitalise on his own grassroots support. Agyapong’s representatives expressed optimism about winning at least 70 percent of the votes, stating they were relying on grassroots support and not opinion polls.
Political observers and academia also weighed in on the race. Kwasi Amakye-Boateng, a politics lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, remarked to AFP that Bawumia was favoured by the polls. However, he noted that the candidate “should not be complacent”, highlighting the economic challenges he will face should he win the party nomination.
Simultaneously, Kwame Asah-Asante, another political commentator from the University of Ghana-Legon, recognised a ‘straight battle’ being fought between Bawumia and Agyapong. The close contest is “difficult to call,” he claimed, as both major contenders have strong grassroots backing.
Ghana, a prominent producer of cocoa, gold and also having significant oil and gas reserves, is nevertheless struggling under growing debt. Like other sub-Saharan African nations, the economic impact of the global pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war has been a heavy burden.
To fortify its public funds and manage debt better, Ghana entered into agreement with the International Monetary Fund last year. The country recently clinched terms for a second payment out of its $3-billion credit deal amounting to $600 million.
This challenging economic reality led to considerable protests in Ghana’s capital, Accra, last month. Hundreds of opposition supporters rallied against the central bank governor’s policies, which they blamed for the economic downturn.
Having led the country since 2017, Akufo-Addo will step down after fulfilling the constitutionally allotted two terms. Mahama, his potential opponent, has previously lost to him in the 2016 and 2020 elections.
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