The two major Ghanaian presidential aspirants are set to battle it out for the third time in a row on Monday. President Nana Akufo-Addo and former president John Dramani Mahama, both contested for the presidential seat in 2012 and 2016, with both winning an election each.
Interestingly, Ghana has been holding its elections in the month of December. This year’s election, set for 7 December, is on the same date as 2016’s elections. Making the date a constant for the two. Now let’s look at what is at stake for the close to a decade rivals.
John Dramani Mahama
The former Ghanaian president, aged 62, was in office from July 2012 – January 2017. He will be contesting under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party ticket.
As it is, the former president is looking to rewrite history, which termed him as the first Ghanaian president to not have won a second term. He will also try to overcome the economic mismanagement allegations that prevented his re-election.
However, Mahama’s name is also on the positive side of Ghana’s history. He is the first Ghanian head of state to be born after Ghana’s Independence. In addition, he is the first vice president to assume the presidential office after the death of a sitting president.
Mahama, a communication expert, brings to the table about 20 years’ experience in governmental positions. He has been a Member of Parliament, Minister of Communications, Vice President, President, and chair of the Economic Community of West African States.
Nana Akufo-Addo
The Incumbent, aged 76, assumed the presidential office in January 2017 after previously suffering a defeat in the 2012 elections. He is a candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). This is the third consecutive time he is vying for the presidential seat.
President Akufo-Ado moved to the Supreme Court of Ghana to contest the 2012 presidential results, but the Supreme Court upheld Mahama’s win.
His 2016 win also put him on the good side of history books, terming him as the first Ghanian presidential opposition candidate to win with majority votes in the first round. He got 53.85 percent of the total votes.
He also has his fair share of leadership in governmental positions. He has served as a Member of Parliament, Attorney General, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and President.
A level Ground (Similarities)
The two will be contesting in what appears to be a level ground contest. Let’s look at some similarities that both have.
First, both of them are eying the second and last term in office. For Akufo-Ado it will be a second consecutive term in office, while John Mahama seeks to come back to the office after a one-term break.
Both presidential aspirants have made it to Ghana’s historical books. Akufo-Ado for being the first opposition candidate to win a majority vote. Mahama is the first Vice president to assume presidential office after the death of his predecessor and, he is also the first president born post-independence.
Both of them have also served as Members of Parliament, for more than a decade, and Ministers in the Government of Ghana.
Lastly, they have both chaired the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) during their presidential terms.
All fingers are crossed to see which aspirant will emerge victorious this time. Will the unexpected happen? Let’s wait and see as the Ghanaians head to the polls on Monday to decide.
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