Ghana's December 2024 elections put the resilience of the country's vaunted democracy to the test

This briefing analyzes the risks and dynamics surrounding Ghana's general elections on December 7, 2024, where voters will elect a president and 276 members of parliament. The author argues that a combination of severe economic crisis, deepening partisan polarization, and low trust in state institutions—specifically the Electoral Commission and the judiciary—threatens the country's reputation for democratic stability.

• The December 7, 2024, elections are characterized by a high-stakes rivalry between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), with both parties viewing the outcome as a 'do-or-die' affair. The NPP seeks an unprecedented third consecutive term, while the NDC is determined to return to power after two terms in opposition.
• Ghana is facing its most severe economic crisis since returning to democratic rule, marked by a USD 30 billion sovereign debt default in 2022, inflation exceeding 50%, and a dramatic depreciation of the cedi. This has led to widespread public dissatisfaction, with 8 out of 10 Ghanaians believing the country is 'going in the wrong direction'.
• There is a significant crisis of trust in the institutions responsible for election integrity. Only about 30% of Ghanaians trust the Electoral Commission (EC) or the police, and roughly 35% trust the courts. The NDC has specifically accused the administration of 'packing' the Supreme Court and has previously suggested it would boycott the courts if the election results are unfavorable.
• The presidential race is primarily a contest between Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia (NPP) and John Dramani Mahama (NDC). This marks the first time both major candidates hail from the historically marginalized North. While 12 candidates are qualified, independent bids from Alan Kyerematen and Nana Kwame Bediako could potentially push the race into a second round of voting by drawing votes away from the NPP.
• The elections are plagued by exponential growth in disinformation and misinformation, facilitated by an unregulated media landscape. Examples include a radio presenter falsely claiming the election date was split by candidate ballot position and NPP-affiliated media spreading rumors about candidate Mahama's ties to Russia.
• There are heightened fears of election-day and post-election violence, particularly in the North where communal conflicts can be politically exploited. The township of Bawku is already experiencing a flare-up of violence with a partisan character. Internationally, the US State Department has implemented a 'visa restriction policy' targeting those who undermine democracy in Ghana.

APA

Prempeh, H. K. (2024). Ghana's December 2024 elections put the resilience of the country's vaunted democracy to the test. Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/ghanas-december-2024-elections-put-the-resilience-of-the-countrys-vaunted-democracy-to-the-test

Chicago

Prempeh, H. Kwasi. Ghana's December 2024 elections put the resilience of the country's vaunted democracy to the test. Africa Policy Research Institute, 2024. https://afripoli.org/ghanas-december-2024-elections-put-the-resilience-of-the-countrys-vaunted-democracy-to-the-test.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Prempeh |first1=H. Kwasi |title=Ghana's December 2024 elections put the resilience of the country's vaunted democracy to the test |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=29 November 2024 |url=https://afripoli.org/ghanas-december-2024-elections-put-the-resilience-of-the-countrys-vaunted-democracy-to-the-test |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{prempeh2024ghanas, author = {Prempeh, H. Kwasi}, title = {{Ghana's December 2024 elections put the resilience of the country's vaunted democracy to the test}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2024}, month = nov, url = {https://afripoli.org/ghanas-december-2024-elections-put-the-resilience-of-the-countrys-vaunted-democracy-to-the-test}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }