Ghana's 2024 Elections: Ghanaians Vote for Renewal and Accountability

Abstract

Since Ghana's return to democratic rule in 1992, the West African country has recurrently been heralded as the model for democracy in Africa. Despite multiple controversies challenging core democratic institutions, Ghana's 2024 elections again represent a strong indicator of the country's democratic resilience. Combining our multi-disciplinary perspectives, we identify the key concerns that preoccupied Ghanaian voters in the lead-up to election day on 7 December 2024. We argue that there is a disconnect between campaign promises, such as the transition into a digital economy, and Ghanaians’ existential worries about the future. Concerns about both environmental and economic liveability equally informed the voter migration behind the 2024 election's unusually large margin of victory. Debates around the alignment of both flagbearers with Ghana's major religious groups, alongside Ghanaians’ rejection of the dismantling of democratic institutions, indicate that Ghana's new government will have to live up to voters’ demands for authenticity and accountability.