Accra, Nov 11 – Ghana’s main opposition leader, John Dramani Mahama, is leading in the race for the December presidential election, according to a new opinion poll. Mahama, a former president, holds a significant lead over ruling party candidate and current Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia.
The poll, conducted by Accra-based research group Global InfoAnalytics, indicates Mahama has 52% support, while Bawumia follows with 41.3%. The poll has a margin of error of 1.9%. With the December 7 election approaching, voter concerns are focused on economic issues, jobs, education, and infrastructure.
Mahama, who served as president from 2012 to 2017, is running as the candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). His administration faced challenges during his tenure, including power shortages, economic instability, and corruption allegations, although he was not directly implicated. In this election, he is appealing to voters dissatisfied with the current economic crisis under the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Bawumia, an economist and former central banker, represents the NPP. His party has faced criticism for overseeing what some describe as Ghana’s worst economic crisis in a generation. In 2022, the government defaulted on a large portion of its $30 billion external debt, leading to a $3 billion International Monetary Fund bailout in 2023, which included strict economic reforms.
Ghana, a leading global cocoa producer, has seen its economy strained by years of heavy borrowing and dependency on commodities. Both Mahama and Bawumia have proposed plans to stabilize the economy and improve livelihoods, as economic recovery remains a top priority for voters.
The Economist Intelligence Unit, along with Fitch Solutions, recently forecast an NDC win, citing the NPP’s economic record as a critical factor.
