Economist Dr. George K. Domfe, a senior research fellow at Ghana’s Institute of Economic Research and Public Policy and founding president of Africa Policy Lens, said Ghana’s ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) lost last year’s presidential election due to economic factors rather than the candidate’s religion.
Speaking on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo program on May 28, 2025, Dr. Domfe cited his research findings on voter behavior in the December 2024 election. He told host Nana Yaw Kesse, “Ghanaians did not renew the mandate of the NPP because of economic hardships, our research shows,” dismissing suggestions that the outcome was driven by religious bias.
Dr. Domfe emphasized that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s faith as a Muslim was not a factor in the voting. “The presidential candidate, Dr Bawumia, being a Muslim did not have any significant influence on how people voted. His religious affiliation was insignificant in the way Ghanaians cast their votes in December 2024,” he said. In his analysis, he found no evidence that the electorate was swayed by the candidate’s religion; instead he pointed to economic conditions as the key issue.
Explaining the economic backdrop, Dr. Domfe noted that Ghana’s economy had been under strain due to global events. He said Ghana had “suffered from the high inflation on the global stage” following the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In his words, “COVID-19 and Putin’s invasion of Ukraine heavily affected the global economy. These led to higher inflation in the country, and it cost the NPP a lot at the polls.” He described these events as “catastrophic” shocks that pushed up prices worldwide, affecting consumer costs in Ghana.
Dr. Domfe also discussed how disruptions in global production contributed to higher prices. He explained that China – the world’s largest manufacturing base – faced significant production slowdowns during the pandemic. Demand outstripped the goods China could produce, which “contributed to higher prices of goods and services across the globe,” including in Ghana. He added that oil prices were similarly driven up by reduced supply amid strong demand, further squeezing Ghana’s economy.
Offering a broader perspective, Dr. Domfe said this pattern had consequences for governments around the world. “This is why almost every party in government across the globe that went for elections lost. The global economic crisis led to so many governments being voted out,” he concluded. His remarks suggest that Ghana’s election outcome was part of a wider trend in which incumbents facing high inflation and economic distress have struggled to win re-election.
Ghana’s voters have indeed been contending with severe economic challenges. In the year leading up to the 2024 election, inflation in Ghana surged to one of the highest rates globally, and the cedi lost significant value. The government implemented tough fiscal measures, including a debt restructuring agreement in 2023 and cuts to subsidies, which affected daily living costs. Public concern over rising prices and unemployment had been widely noted by analysts as key issues. In this context, Dr. Domfe’s analysis aligns with observations that Ghanaian voters prioritized economic relief, seeking change after years of financial hardship.
Ghana’s December 2024 election saw the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate John Dramani Mahama defeat Dr. Bawumia, unseating the eight-year NPP administration. The smooth transition of power underscored the importance voters placed on the economy. Observers note that, with the new government taking office, Ghana will likely remain focused on policies to stabilize prices and revive growth. Dr. Domfe’s comments echo a common view among economists: in times of economic crisis, voters tend to hold the incumbent party responsible, often leading to political change.
