Ghana’s democracy is not perfect, but it continues to show a kind of resilience that stands out in a sub-region wrestling with coups and democratic backsliding. In December 2024, despite economic hardship and citizen frustration, Ghanaians still turned up at the polls, with about 61% of registered voters casting ballots (albeit down from nearly 79% in 2020). The New Patriotic Party (NPP), despite its promise to extend its rule and break with a tradition of the governing party being voted out every eight years, lost to the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Citizens, unhappy with the state of affairs, expressed their displeasure with the incumbent NPP government and exercised their electoral rights by voting for the opposition NDC and former President John Mahama. The return of the NDC, particularly with John Mahama as president once more, ontologically aligns with the Akan Adinkra concept of “Sankofa:” A socio-philosophical concept that suggests that to make progress for the desired future, one must occasionally revisit the past to uncover solutions for present and future challenges. The early concession by the NPP and the transfer of power afterwards once again cemented Ghana’s reputation for credible elections and smooth transitions. Click here to read the full blog post first published by Brookings.