An opinion poll released on Monday suggests that Ghana’s main opposition leader, John Dramani Mahama, is poised to win the upcoming presidential election in December.
The survey, conducted by Accra-based Global InfoAnalytics, places Mahama ahead of his rival, ruling party candidate Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia.
Mahama, 65, is the candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), while Bawumia, 60, represents the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The poll results indicate Mahama leading with 52% support, while Bawumia trails at 41.3%. However, the poll carries a 1.9% margin of error.
The December 7 election will determine the successor to President Nana Akufo-Addo, who is stepping down after two terms.
Both Mahama and Bawumia have presented economic-focused plans to address the nation’s pressing challenges, including unemployment, education, and infrastructure development.
Voters, the poll shows, are primarily concerned about Ghana’s struggling economy.
Mahama’s first presidency (2012-2017) was marked by heavy infrastructure investments, though his administration faced criticism for power shortages and corruption allegations, which he was never directly implicated in.
Bawumia, an economist and former central banker, is seeking to continue the NPP’s tenure, despite grappling with Ghana’s worst economic crisis in decades.
The country defaulted on much of its $30 billion external debt in 2022, and only secured a $3 billion IMF bailout in 2023.
Political analysts predict a tight race, with a potential run-off likely. No party in Ghana’s democratic history has won more than two consecutive terms.
As the election nears, it’s clear that Ghana’s future hangs in the balance.