John Dramani Mahama
Campaigning for election 2024 formally began on July 28 for the NDC, as former
President John Dramani Mahama seeks another mandate from an increasingly disaffected electorate.
Yes, as with every election, 2024 is predicted to be an acrimonious affair, and as Ghanaians prepare for the mudslinging, issues such as the economy and youth
unemployment and cost of living are expected to dominate the campaign.
I'd say Mahama has already positioned himself as the leader best equipped to meet the needs of the country. He's promising to reset the country and to do politics differently; I can even go a step further and say that he's narrowing the scope of his new policy announcements to political essentials only.
The recurring narrative from him is that he represents a potent idea of Ghana and its dreams of a better society. This idea is perhaps best summed up in his campaign motto, “Building the Ghana We Want Together,” and it's been sold to Ghanaians as encompassing the protection of human and civil rights, social protection, economic opportunity for all, remedies to environmental problems (Galamsey), and prosperity for all.
In a country where women make up about 50.13% of the population, Mahama is
promising to usher in a new age of gender equality, beginning by establishing a
National Women's Development Bank to provide vital financial support to women.
All in all, Mahama is making specific policy promises and convincing people capable of independent thought, and the electorate has lost faith completely in the system that the NDC 2024 campaign stands for something.
While surprises could and probably will pop up, just like in any election, the 2024 race will be one for the ages. How it all shakes out is anyone’s guess.
Dela is a communications adviser and researcher specialising in elections and voting systems.
