John Mahama has once again been sworn in as the President of Ghana.
The new president who took over Tuesday from Nana Akufo-Ado — who had taken over from him in 2017 — is returning to tackle growing youth unemployment and corruption in the country, conditions he battled with in his first term.
Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang was also sworn in as Vice President, becoming the country’s first female Vice President.
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The ceremony took place at the Independence Square in Accra, where Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo administered the oath of office.
Mahama and Opoku-Agyemang won the presidential seat in December after a sweeping victory at the polls, a pass he needed for his journey back to the presidential villa seven years after he was disposed.
Jean Mensa, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana declared the former President National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, winner of the 2024 presidential election having secured more than 50 per cent of the total votes.
Mahama polled about 6.3 million votes, while the vice president polled 4.5 million votes. Defeating Mahamudu Bawumia the ruling (NPP) candidate with a 1.7 million vote margin.
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He got 56.6 percent against 41.6 percent for Vice-President Bawumia. which is the biggest margin of victory in the country for 24 years.
Voters turnout according to Mensa, the electoral chairperson was 60.9 percent
Read also: Ghana VP Bawumia concedes defeat to Mahama
The former president won 13 regions, while Bawumia, who conceded defeat on Sunday, won in only three regions.
The vice-president said he was doing so “to avoid further tension and preserve the peace of our country”.
Mahama said he felt “humbled” that he and his National Democratic Congress (NDC) had “chalked one of the best results in the electoral history of Ghana”.
He also noted that Ghana had “made history” by choosing its first female Vice-President, Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang.
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The election that brought Mahama in comes amid the worst economic crisis in a generation. Unemployment, the cost of living and concerns over the environmental impact of illegal gold mining, were among the key issues. With many Ghanaians desperate for a change
Twelve candidates participated in Saturday’s presidential and parliamentary elections. However, the NDC won by a landslide in both elections, with the party set to have a two-thirds majority in parliament.
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