ACCRA, Dec 4, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Former president John Mahama, Ghana's main opposition leader, makes a third run for the presidency in Saturday's election, hoping to reclaim power as the ruling party faces public discontent over the economy.

Mahama, of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party, faces Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, who represents the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Both candidates hail from northern Ghana, intensifying the political significance of the region in what could be one of Ghana's most competitive elections in recent years.

Mahama, 66, who served as president from 2012 to 2017, has promised to push for economic recovery, a lean and efficient government and anti-corruption reforms.

"Ghanaians are feeling the pinch from a tough economic situation and Mahama's campaign strategy appears focused on reminding them of his experience and pledging to do things differently," said Kwame Asah-Asante, political analyst at the University of Ghana.

"The question is whether voters are willing to give him a second chance."
- Writer and music fan -

A writer and devotee of Afrobeat music, Mahama wrote in his memoir "My First Coup d'Etat -- And Other True Stories from the Lost Decades of Africa" that he was changed by his boyhood experiences during a 1966 military coup.

He was born in northern Ghana as a child of privilege, his house being the only one in the village with a diesel generator.

His father, who served as junior minister, was briefly detained and interrogated by the 1966 coup leaders but was later released unharmed.
Mahama was also a member of parliament and chairman of the West Africa Caucus at the Pan-African Parliament in Pretoria.

He has proposed a "24-hour economy", or a plan to keep industries active round the clock, which he argues will create jobs and increase productivity.

He has also pledged to limit his administration to 60 ministers and deputies, vowing to run "the leanest but most efficient government".
On corruption, Mahama says he will create a new office tasked with scrutinising government procurement above a $5-million threshold.
He believes that unchecked procurement processes are a major source of corruption.

For his running mate he selected academic and politician Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, who was the first woman in Ghana to be a vice-presidential candidate for a major party in 2020.

"By choosing a woman as his running mate, Mahama is setting an example in gender representation," said activist Shamima Muslim.

Bawumia and Mahama have both voiced support for the anti-LGBTQ bill passed by Ghana's parliament in February but yet to be signed into law, which has sparked international criticism.

Mahama has historically enjoyed significant support from northern voters and his campaign is counting on this base to help him gain an edge over Bawumia.

Bawumia's roots in the region may weaken that advantage, making the north a potential battleground for both parties.

But Mustapha Gbande, a spokesperson for Mahama's campaign, expressed confidence.

"Mahama's track record and empathy for the average Ghanaian are unmatched," Gbande told AFP.

"People are looking for change and they trust Mahama to steer the country in a better direction."
- 'Different this time'? -
Mahama's tenure as president was marred by a severe energy crisis that led to persistent power cuts, known locally as "dumsor", which dented his reputation.

Corruption allegations also plagued his administration, although no charges were formally filed against him.

"Mahama must convince Ghanaians that his administration will be different this time around," governance expert Baffour Agyeman-Duah told AFP.
"His promises sound good, but the electorate may be sceptical given his previous record."

Mahama's campaign has sought to counter criticism by emphasising his experience in international leadership, including his role in combating the Ebola crisis as chairman of regional West African bloc ECOWAS.

Polls suggest a competitive race but several projections favour Mahama, especially with the ruling NPP party struggling to shake off criticism over the economy.

If Mahama wins, it would mark a historic comeback, making him the first president in the three decades of Ghana's Fourth Republic to reclaim the presidency after being voted out.