Ghanaians are set to vote on Dec. 7 for a brand new president to interchange Nana Akufo-Addo, who has served the utmost two phrases.
Former president John Dramani Mahama of the opposition Nationwide Democratic Congress social gathering is seen as the primary challenger to Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, from Akufo-Addo’s ruling New Patriotic Occasion.
Ten different candidates are working. Amongst them, unbiased candidates Nana Kwame Bediako and Alan Kyerematen, who’re anticipated to take votes from the 2 essential candidates.
JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA
Former president Mahama, 66, is seen by polls as favorite to win the election given a extreme financial disaster that has made the present authorities unpopular.
Whereas vice chairman in 2012, Mahama grew to become interim chief after the sudden demise of president John Atta Mills. A number of months later, Mahama received his personal mandate in a presidential election.
Throughout his time period, he invested closely in infrastructure however drew criticism over energy shortages, macroeconomic instability and allegations of political corruption, although he was not personally tainted.
He suffered back-to-back election defeats to Akufo-Addo in 2016 and 2020.
Mahama informed Reuters in an interview that if he wins a brand new time period in workplace he’ll search to renegotiate phrases of a $3 billion Worldwide Financial Fund bailout, which was secured final yr to restructure the west African nation’s debt.
MAHAMUDU BAWUMIA
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, 61, was chosen by the ruling New Patriotic Occasion (NPP) as its flag-bearer within the election.
He’s the primary Muslim to steer a significant social gathering in Ghana since 1992 and likewise the primary individual exterior the dominant Akan-speaking ethnic group to steer the NPP.
The 61-year-old economist and former central banker assumed workplace as vice chairman in 2017 after Akufo-Addo’s victory within the 2016 election.
Bawumia grew to become the face of financial coverage all through Akufo-Addo’s presidency as Ghana battled its worst financial disaster in a era.
He has promised to simplify the tax system, halve the variety of ministers, and minimize public spending by 3% of GDP if elected.
ALAN KYEREMATEN
Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, 69, is a former commerce minister who served below Akufo-Addo from 2017 to 2023.
He was put ahead by Ghana in 2012 because the candidate to succeed Pascal Lamy as head of the World Commerce Group (WTO), however he misplaced the race.
A outstanding member of the ruling New Patriotic Occasion (NPP), Kyerematen was extremely tipped to win the social gathering’s main and succeed Akufo-Addo.
However he resigned from the social gathering after coming third within the first stage of the primaries, saying his contributions weren’t appreciated, and utilized to run as an unbiased candidate.
NANA KWAME BEDIAKO
Bediako began his election marketing campaign as a thriller candidate, hanging billboards throughout Ghana that confirmed a masked face and a promise to empower youth.
The 44-year-old businessman, working in infrastructure improvement, has contributed to the creation of over 700 properties and employs over 3,000 individuals, in line with his web site.
The unbiased candidate’s election guarantees embody plans to create industries in all of Ghana’s areas. He has pledged to control with solely 12 cupboard ministers.
Two years in the past, Bediako shot into the limelight when his neighbours complained the businessman was maintaining tigers at residence.
This text was produced by Reuters information company. It has not been edited by International South World.
