The 7th December 2024 Revolution: Not just to Govern but to Transform
Dear Nyaaba,
I bring you greetings from a “brand new second-hand” Ghana, where hope is awash and expectations, unbridled. Ghanaians, in their overwhelming majority, in one swirl swoop, have wrested back their power and entrusted it, to a man they once rejected.
When it seemed that Ghanaians had arrived at the limits of their patience and were open even to the prospect of unconstitutional means, the opportunity arrived and they took full advantage of it.
On December 7, 2024, Ghana once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to democracy. The election of former President John Dramani Mahama marked not just a change in leadership but what many consider a peaceful revolution, a decisive rejection of the status quo and an emphatic demand for a new direction.
The victory of Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was resounding. With 56.55% of the vote, Mahama defeated Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), which secured just 41%. In Parliament, the NDC clinched a commanding majority, winning 185 out of 276 seats. It was a political earthquake that sent ripples across the country, signaling the people’s hunger for transformation.
The term “revolution” often conjures images of upheaval and rebellion, but revolutions are not always violent. Sometimes, they are born out of collective resolve, channeled through democratic processes. The 2024 election in Ghana was one such moment.
For eight years under the NPP, Ghanaians grappled with a battered economy, spiraling inflation, soaring debt, and unemployment. Confidence in the government eroded as basic living standards deteriorated. The electorate, faced with worsening economic conditions and broken promises, took a stand. Their weapon of choice? The ballot box.
By electing Mahama, Ghanaians made a revolutionary statement: enough was enough. It was not just about changing leadership but about resetting the nation’s priorities, reclaiming hope and demanding accountability, economic stability, and social equity.
Mahama’s campaign resonated with Ghanaians on a profound level. He promised to “reset” the economy, rebuild trust in government institutions, and prioritize the needs of ordinary citizens. His pledges included:
• Affordable Housing and Healthcare: Tackling Ghana’s housing deficit and improving access to healthcare.
• Economic Stability: Restoring confidence in the cedi and creating sustainable jobs.
• Fair Wages: Addressing the widening gap between the rich and the poor.
• Unity: Bridging the deepening divisions within Ghanaian society.
This vision of renewal captured the imagination of a populace tired of the status quo. For many, Mahama’s election represented not just a political victory but a social and economic rebirth.
Ghana’s revolution on December 7, 2024, was driven by its people. In a country celebrated as a beacon of democracy in Africa, the power of the ballot once again triumphed. The voter turnout of over 60% was a testament to the determination of Ghanaians to shape their future.
It was also a reminder that democracy is more than a periodic exercise, it is a tool for transformative change. This election showed that revolutions can be peaceful, that they can be achieved without violence, and that the will of the people is a force no government can ignore.
While the election of John Dramani Mahama is being hailed as a revolution, it is only the beginning. The real challenge lies in fulfilling the lofty expectations of the electorate. Ghanaians have given Mahama and the NDC a mandate, not just to govern, but to transform.
To sustain this revolution, the new administration must deliver on its promises, repair Ghana’s fractured economy, and rebuild trust in public institutions. Failure to do so could unravel the gains of December 7, 2024, and undermine the faith that the people have placed in the democratic process.
To those who doubt that what happened on December 7, 2024, was a revolution, consider this: revolutions do not always need guns and barricades. Sometimes, they are born in the quiet resolve of a determined populace, in the rejection of the old and the embrace of the new.
Ghanaians spoke loudly and clearly at the ballot box. They did not just vote for a leader, they voted for change, for hope, and for a better future. That is the essence of a revolution.
And who doubts it? Only those who have not studied the French Revolution of 1789, the Mexican Revolution of 1910 or the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, not to mention the JJ Rawlings-led Ghanaian Revolution of 1981.
Sincerely yours,
The Honourrebel Siriguboy
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