POLITICS

Election 2024: I was asleep when Bawumia called to concede – John Mahama reveals

President John Dramani Mahama has once again expressed surprise over the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.

Addressing members of the clergy during a fellowship meeting in Kumasi on Sunday, March 2, 2025, President Mahama said he never expected the outcome of the election to have been known as early as a day after the December 7 election.

According to him, while he was asleep a day after the election, he was woken up from his sleep to receive a concessionary phone call from his biggest contender, then Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

“The night after we voted, by 9 am the next morning, everything was done; all the votes were counted. Who would have imagined? Because I thought we would have had to wait for the Electoral Commission for three days. But by the next morning, I was woken from my sleep that my brother wants to talk to me.

“I asked which brother, and I was told it was my brother, the Vice President, Bawumia. I asked for a minute, went to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth quickly, and came to pick up my phone. When I checked, it was my brother on the phone. He said my ‘big brother, we fought a good fight and when I look at how things are going, you have won, so I am calling to congratulate you, after which I will go out to meet with the press and concede defeat to you,’” he stated.

Ghana’s 2024 presidential election, held on December 7, resulted in a victory for John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Mahama, a former president (2012–2017), secured 56.55% of the vote, totaling 6,328,397 votes, according to the Electoral Commission’s official results announced on December 9. His opponent, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), received 41.61%, or 4,657,304 votes.

On December 8, a day after the election and before the official results were declared, Dr. Bawumia conceded defeat in a televised address from his residence.

Citing internal NPP tallies that showed Mahama’s decisive win, Bawumia announced he had called Mahama to congratulate him, emphasizing his decision was to reduce tension and uphold Ghana’s reputation as a democratic leader in Africa.

“The people of Ghana have spoken. The people have voted for change at this time, and we respect that decision with all humility,” he stated.

John Mahama was sworn in as president on January 7, 2025, alongside Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Ghana’s first female vice president.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

Related Articles

Back to top button