Mahama sworn in as Ghana’s president for a third time against the backdrop of an economic crisis

By Francis Kokutse

John Mahama was sworn in as president of Ghana for a third time Tuesday against the backdrop of the country’s worst economic crisis in a generation. Thousands of Ghanaians from all walks of life attended the ceremony in the capital.

Mahama, the opposition leader who started his political career as the communications minister, won the presidential election late last year after pledging to tackle the economic crisis, corruption and unemployment.

Mahama, 66, who was previously Ghana’s president between July 2012 and January 2017, will replace current President Nana Akufo-Addo. Mahama was first sworn in as president when President John Evans Atta Mills died in July 2012. He served the rest of that term and then won an election in 2012.

Mahama promised to “reset” the country on various fronts during a campaign that prioritized the economy and largely appealed to young Ghanaians who saw the vote as a way