Bawumia Was the Better Choice, but Ghanaians Chose Mahama – Kofi Bentil
IMANI Africa Vice President Reflects on the 2024 Election Outcome and Shares His Support for Both Candidates
- Kofi Bentil maintains that Dr. Bawumia was the better candidate for Ghana
- He acknowledges Mahama's fair victory and wishes him success for the country's benefit
- IMANI’s February 2024 research indicated that voter frustration, not just candidate qualities, influenced the election outcome
Kofi Bentil, Vice President of IMANI Africa, has reiterated his belief that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the outgoing Vice President and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), was the superior candidate for Ghana in the recently concluded 2024 general election.
Despite his preferred candidate losing to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) leader, John Dramani Mahama, Bentil wished Mahama well, emphasizing the need for national progress.
In a post-election interview, Bentil explained that his endorsement of Dr. Bawumia was grounded in IMANI’s February 2024 research, which indicated that Ghanaians’ dissatisfaction with the status quo heavily favored Mahama. However, Bentil urged citizens to move beyond anger and consider the qualifications of the candidates.
“I still believe Dr. Bawumia was the better candidate. Nonetheless, Mahama won fair and square. If he succeeds, it benefits us all,” Bentil noted.
The conversation stirred mixed reactions, with Buem MP Kofi Adams criticizing IMANI for overlooking pressing social and governance issues. Adams argued that the arrogance of the NPP administration and environmental degradation under their tenure played pivotal roles in the electoral outcome.
Meanwhile, some NPP supporters have attributed the party’s loss to low voter turnout and internal challenges, maintaining that Dr. Bawumia became a scapegoat for the party’s broader failings.
