Since Ghana returned to democracy in 1992, the country has held nine consecutive elections In all these elections ethnicity and religion have played a role, even though the country’s constitution bars the explicit use of social identities in party politics.
For the first time in over three decades, the 2024 elections had two politicians from different religions leading the biggest parties. One a Muslim, Mahamudu Bawumia, and another a Christian, John Mahama. Bawumia, the current vice president, leads the incumbent New Patriotic Party while Mahama, himself a former president, leads the National Democratic Congress.
The Conversation Africa’s Godfred Akoto Boafo speaks to political scientist Thomas Prehi Botchway who has researched and written on religion and ethnicity in Ghanaian politics and their impact on electoral outcomes in Ghana
