Election 2024: Meet the Presidential Candidates, know their official social media pages

Ghana will hold its ninth general election under the Fourth Republic on December 7, 2024, when eligible voters elect a new president and 276 Members of Parliament. 

This particular election has some new faces contesting and other candidates have been familiar faces from previous elections. Here are brief profiles of all 12 candidates running for president in the 2024 elections:

• Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the current Vice President of Ghana, is contesting for the first time as a presidential candidate for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).  

The 61-year-old trained economist is not new to public service having served as Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana from 2006 to 2008 and the Resident Representative of the Africa Development Bank (AfDB) in Zimbabwe in 2011. 

Bawumia has been at the forefront of national politics since 2008 when he was nominated as running mate to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, he was renominated for the second time before Akufo-Addo won in 2016 and 2020 – all with Bawumia as his Vice President.

• John Dramani Mahama  

The presidential candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama is not a new face in Ghana’s polls. He was a former president of the republic between 2009 and 2012, However, in July 2012, John Mahama succeeded the late President John Evans Atta-Mills.

He was subsequently elected president in 2012 before losing his re-election bid in 2016. He also lost his third shot at the presidency and is currently running for a final bid on his fourth consecutive attempt.

Before joining the presidency, the 66-year-old was an MP for Bole-Bamboi from 1997 to 2009, he has also held positions of deputy and ministerial portfolios from 1998 to 2001. 

• Alan Kyerematen

The former NPP stalwart and Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen (68) is in the race as an independent candidate in the upcoming polls. 

Alan quit the NPP after boycotting the NPP’s presidential primary late last year citing the fact that the field was tilted in favour of Bawumia, who emerged winner of the contest.

Shortly after his exit from the NPP, he formed a political movement known as the Movement for Change, which has been expanded into the Alliance for Revolutionary Change – a coalition with other political entities and individuals, including a former flagbearer of the Convention People’s Party (CPP).

• Nana Kwame Bediako

A new face on the ballot paper in Ghana’s 2024 electoral race is 44-year-old businessman Nana Kwame Bediako, alias Cheddar. 

Bediako leads the political movement known as The New Force, and according to his website, his business endeavours have contributed to the creation of 700 homes, leading to job creation and infrastructure development.

In his campaigns across the country, Cheddar has emphasized that his aim is to translate his successes in business to governance and improving the lives of citizens. He has also positioned himself as the voice for the youth.

• Christian Kwabena Andrews

Christian Kwabena Andrews, alias Osofo Kyiri Abosom, is the founder and flagbearer of the Ghana Union Movement (GUM). He surfaced during the 2020 elections and eventually emerged as a third force in that year’s race. 

The 59-year-old is a religious figure and founder of the Life Assembly Worship Center. 

• Daniel Agustus Lartey Jnr

Daniel Agustus Lartey Jnr is the flagbearer of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP). 

His late father, Daniel Agustus Lartey, founded the party and contested as the party’s flagbearer in the 2000 elections. 

• George Twum Barima Adu

George Twum Barima Adu (61) is one of four independent candidates contesting for president. He is also a newcomer to Ghana’s electoral scene. 

He previously worked with the National Insurance Commission in 1993 and later worked as Executive Director of Cypress Investments Limited – a real estate consultancy. 

• Hassan Abdulai Ayariga 

Hassan Abdulai Ayariga of the All People’s Congress (APC) was a former flagbearer of the People’s National Convention (PNC) – a political party formed by Dr. Hilla Limann in 1992. 

When he lost the PNC flagbearer position to Dr. Edward Mahama in 2016, he left the party to form the APC. Although the APC had filed to contest the 2016 polls, they were later disqualified due to paperwork errors. 

The 52-year-old businessman is also one of the candidates from northern Ghana, specifically Bawku, in the Upper East region. 

• Kofi Akpaloo

Kofi Akpaloo is the founder and presidential candidate of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG). He formerly contested the 2012 elections under a previous party he founded, the Independent People’s Party (IPP). The IPP was later renamed to LPG after being disqualified from contesting the 2016 elections. 

Outside his political career, the 54-year-old worked as an accountant for the Northern Trust Corporation between 2005 and 2007. He owns Doveson Lovell & Co, a financial consultancy firm. 

• Mohammed Frimpong

Mohammed Frimpong (68) is the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Party (NDP). The NDP was founded by former second lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings in 2012 after she exited the NDC. 

According to his LinkedIn page, Mohammed Frimpong is also the Chief Executive of Stinhold Ltd.

• Nana Akosua Frimpomaa

Nana Akosua Frimpomaa, until the demise of Akua Donkor, the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP) candidate, was one of only two women contesting. As flagbearer of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), the 54-year-old’s campaign focuses on initiatives that aim to improve educational, and social welfare outcomes. 

• Kofi Koranteng

Kofi Koranteng  (58) is among the independent candidates in the election. His campaign focuses on investing in infrastructure, education, and social services. 

It is important to note some of the presidential candidates do not have verified social media handles. Therefore, the public is advised to be circumspect when consuming information from social media users using the names of these presidential candidates. 

By Gifty Danso

GD/GA/AS