President John Dramani Mahama has disclosed that he was fast asleep when his main opponent, then Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, called to concede defeat in the 2024 presidential election.

Addressing clergy members at a fellowship meeting in Kumasi on Sunday, March 2, 2025, Mahama expressed surprise at how quickly the election outcome was determined, noting that he had not expected the results to be settled just a day after the December 7 polls.

“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, saw John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) emerge victorious. According to official results announced by the Electoral Commission on December 9, Mahama, who previously served as president from 2012 to 2017, secured 56.55% of the vote, amounting to 6,328,397 votes. His closest contender, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), garnered 41.61%, translating to 4,657,304 votes.

A day after the election, on December 8, Dr. Bawumia conceded defeat in a televised address from his residence. Relying on internal NPP figures that confirmed Mahama’s lead, he announced that he had personally called to congratulate his opponent. Bawumia emphasized that his decision was driven by a commitment to peace and Ghana’s democratic principles.

“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.

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