Ghana’s New President Faces Big Hopes from People
Ghana’s former President, John Mahama, won the recent election by a large margin, bringing him back to power after eight years.
According to the BBC, Mahama beat Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia with 56.6% of the votes compared to Bawumia’s 41.6%. This is the biggest win for a candidate in Ghana in the last 24 years.
Mahama’s victory was celebrated by his supporters, especially in areas like Tamale, where he has strong backing.
Belinda Amuzu, a teacher from Tamale, told the BBC that people hope the new government will improve the economy and reduce hardships. She also expects Mahama to fight against corrupt officials.
The BBC reported that Ghana has been struggling economically since 2022, leading to high living costs and unemployment rates around 15%. People are looking to Mahama to create more jobs and remove extra taxes, often called “nuisance taxes,” to make life easier.
Economic experts like Professor Godfred Bokpin shared with the BBC that Ghana needs strong and honest leadership to fix its problems. He mentioned that the government should be smaller and more efficient. Dr. Kwame Asah-Asante, a political analyst, added that Mahama should choose leaders based on their skills, not just loyalty.
Mahama plans to reduce the number of government ministers from over 80 to about 60 and has chosen Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as his vice-president, making her the first woman to hold this position in Ghana. The BBC highlighted that Opoku-Agyemang is respected and trusted, not just a symbolic choice.
Despite his promises, some people are worried if Mahama can keep his word. During his last term, Ghana faced severe electricity problems, and Mahama joked about it being called “Mr. Dumsor,” meaning “off and on” in the local language.
Critics, as reported by the BBC, doubt his ability to improve the electricity situation and fulfill his promises to reduce taxes without hurting the economy.
Mahama also aims to make Ghana a “24-hour economy” by creating night jobs and giving businesses incentives to operate longer. However, Professor Bokpin expressed concerns to the BBC that there might not be enough money to support these plans.
Corruption remains a major issue in Ghana. Although Mahama has been accused in the past, the BBC noted that a Ghanaian court found no evidence linking him to recent corruption cases.
Nevertheless, people expect him to take strong actions against corrupt officials and ensure transparency in the government.
The outgoing government also faced corruption scandals, including expensive projects that didn’t get completed.
Mahama has promised to set up special courts to handle these issues and make sure officials are held accountable, as mentioned in his talks with the BBC.
As Mahama prepares to take office next month, the BBC emphasized that he must meet the high expectations of the Ghanaian people.
If he fails, people might punish his government just like they did with the previous administration.
In his victory speech, Mahama acknowledged the high hopes of the citizens and vowed to work hard to meet their expectations.
He said, “Our best days are not behind us; our best days are ahead of us. Forward ever – backwards never.”
Ghanaians are now watching closely to see if Mahama can turn around the country’s economy and improve their lives, trusting the BBC to keep them informed on his progress.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9vkyk3v02xo