ACCRA, Dec 5 – Ghana’s leading presidential candidates held rival rallies in Accra on Thursday evening, making last-minute appeals to voters ahead of Saturday’s legislative and presidential elections.
Former president John Dramani Mahama, candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), addressed a crowd in the Madina neighborhood, calling the vote a crucial moment for the country.
“This election is not just another election. It’s a defining moment for our nation,” Mahama told supporters, urging them to “reset the country.”
Pre-election polls suggest Mahama is the favorite, with his campaign focusing on Ghana’s deep economic crisis. He accused Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, of playing a key role in the policies that contributed to the crisis.
At the University of Ghana campus, Bawumia defended his record, pointing to economic recovery efforts under his party’s leadership.
“When you come to the macroeconomy, it’s like night and day. We’ve created more jobs than him,” Bawumia said to supporters wearing the NPP’s white, blue, and red colors. He also cited improvements in power supply compared to the energy shortages during Mahama’s presidency.
“We’ve kept the lights on,” he said. “On what basis does Mahama want to come back?”
Voters remain divided on key issues such as debt, corruption, and public services. Philip Doh, a 69-year-old former NPP supporter, said he would now back Mahama, citing the government’s handling of corruption and debt. Meanwhile, Kofi Ayensu, 39, said he would vote for the NPP again, crediting its free high school education policy.
