It's Morning Again In Ghana

The presidential election represented the Ghanaian desire to find an alternative to the policies of President John Mahama. Many voters pointed to the economy as the reason for the needed change in The Flagstaff House. Both unemployment and inflation remained high. The general contempt for the Mahama Administration was felt when 5 percent of Mahama's own party, the NDC, attempted to replace him. While Mahama survived the presidential primary, he faced a formidable NPP opponent.

The New Patriotic Party rallied behind former minister Nana Addo. It was not an easy selection for the New Patriotic Party as there were a number of notable candidates. Nana Addo, however, had an impressive track record in elections. In the presidential election of 2008, Nana Akufo-Addo made impressive strides, but fell short to John Mills who went on to become president. In 2012, Nana Addo narrowly lost to acting President Mahama.

In 2016, Nana Addo seemed to be the most promising choice to lead. His campaign promises reflected the sentiment that Ghanaians were seeking following two decades of despair.

Nana Addo's campaign focused on the idea of a new Ghana. Economically, Nana Addo campaigned on the notion of supply-side economics, and promised a balanced budget and lower tax rates on businesses and Ghanaians. Nana Addo wanted to return the nation to economic prosperity.

Nana Addo had gained the confidence of a wide array of Ghanaians during his campaigning. Women, business owners, laborers, leaders and members of the NPP all supported Nana Akufo-Addo. Conversely, Mahama stood little chance against the ruthless campaigning of his opponent. Nana Addo regularly asked, 'Are you better off now than you were four years ago?' He repeatedly referred to what was known as the 'misery index,' which was the mixture of the unemployment rate and inflation.

On December 7, 2016, it was the nation's turn to speak. Ghana overwhelmingly sided with Nana Addo and the New NPP politics that he represented. The presidential election witnessed Akufo-Addo, in a landslide. It was the end of the Mahama Administration and the beginning of Nana's new morning in Ghana.

The presidential election represented a break from the politics of President John Mahama and his administration. Maybe even more so, it represented the Ghanaian desire to move away from the policies established.

Regardless, Nana Addo represented the renewed Ghanaian spirit. Nana Akufo-Addo campaigned for a less government intervention, supply-side economics via tax reform.

Mahama struggled to match the allure of Nana Akufo-Addo at the polls. During the election, Nana Akufo-Addo managed to generate 53% of the vote. The defeat of Mahama represented the Ghanaian faith in Nana Addo's promise for a new beginning in Ghana.