Ghana’s ruling party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), conducted primaries on Saturday to select its candidate for the upcoming 2024 presidential election, with Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia being the frontrunner.
The country, grappling with its worst economic crisis in years, anticipates that the economic turmoil will be a central issue in the election campaign leading up to the December 2024 vote to succeed President Nana Akufo-Addo.
Vice President Bawumia, a former deputy central bank governor, is the favored candidate according to pollsters. He is expected to secure the NPP nomination and compete against former president John Dramani Mahama of the opposition National Democratic Congress.
Bawumia expressed his commitment to unifying the NP犀利士 P, stating, “I will give the NPP its best chance to win.” He emphasized his grassroots support and the importance of party unity.
Kennedy Agyapong, his main opponent, also expressed confidence in his chances and relied on his grassroots party backing, aiming for a substantial portion of the votes.
The primary results were expected to be announced around 1600 GMT on Saturday.
Political analysts acknowledged Bawumia’s lead but cautioned against complacency, considering the nation’s challenging economic situation. Ghana is currently facing economic difficulties due to increased debt and global economic challenges, making the forthcoming election even more crucial.
Despite the expectations, Bawumia faces a formidable challenge from Agyapong, and the race is anticipated to be closely contested as both candidates enjoy significant grassroots support.
Ghana, known for its cocoa and gold production and possessing oil and gas reserves, has been dealing with economic hardships exacerbated by the global pandemic and geopolitical events like the Russia-Ukraine war.
The country reached an agreement with the International Monetary Fund to bolster public finances and debt management, with an additional $600 million payment recently agreed upon out of a $3-billion credit deal.
Protesters have expressed their concerns about the economic crisis in Ghana, and Akufo-Addo will step down after serving two terms as allowed by the constitution, leaving the upcoming presidential election to determine the nation’s future leadership. John Dramani Mahama, the opposition candidate, had previously lost to Akufo-Addo in the 2016 and 2020 elections.
