Tue Jan 07 12:03:25 UTC 2025: ## Mahama Sworn in as Ghana’s President Amidst Economic Crisis
**Accra, Ghana –** John Dramani Mahama was sworn in as Ghana’s president for a third term on January 7th, 2025, inheriting a nation grappling with its worst economic crisis in decades. The opposition leader, who previously served as president from 2012 to 2017, won the December election on a platform promising to tackle the economic downturn, corruption, and unemployment.
Mahama’s campaign resonated particularly with young Ghanaians, who viewed the election as a potential escape from the country’s severe cost-of-living crisis. His promise to create a “24-hour economy” aimed at boosting small and medium-sized enterprises and widening the tax base generated considerable hope.
The election, also contested for parliamentary seats, was held amidst concerns about the country’s economic hardship and served as a key test of democracy in a region facing challenges from extremist violence and coups. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) observed the election as generally peaceful.
Business leaders and citizens alike expressed cautious optimism. Andrew Takyi, founder of a fintech company, voiced hope that Mahama’s economic plans would lead to improvements. Innocent Appiah, a senior media research officer, anticipated greater transparency and accountability in the extractive industry under the new administration. Meanwhile, ordinary citizens like Enyonam Agble emphasized the need to recover funds lost to corruption under the previous administration. Mahama’s presidency begins against a backdrop of significant challenges, but with considerable expectation for economic and political reform.
First Piper 