Ghana's ruling party picks VP Mahamudu Bawumia as 2024 presidential candidate amid economic challenges

By Enoch Fiifi Forson

ACCRA, Ghana (AA) - Ghana's ruling party elected Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia as its candidate Saturday for the 2024 presidential election.

Bawumia won the primaries by amassing more than 60% of the vote from nearly 200,000 ballots.

His closest contender, controversial MP and businessman Kennedy Agyapong, was second in the four-way race. Former Agriculture Minister Owusu Afriyie Akoto and former MP Francis Addai-Nimoh fell short.

Bawumia faces a direct contest with opposition candidate and former President John Mahama who lost the 2016 and 2020 elections.

The election is expected to revolve around Ghana's economic difficulties, with the opposition accusing Bawumia of mismanaging the economy during a period of significant economic challenges.

Ghana, renowned for its cocoa, gold and energy resources, has grappled with mounting debt and economic consequences resulting from the coronavirus pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

It recently concluded negotiations for a second payment of $600 million on a $3 billion credit deal, underscoring the critical role of economic issues in the December 2024 election to succeed President Nana Akufo-Addo.