President-elect John Dramani Mahama has condemned the past eight years under President Nana Akufo-Addo’s leadership, labelling the period as one of the darkest in Ghana’s history.

In his victory speech following the announcement of his win, Mr. Mahama reflected on the difficulties faced by the nation.

 “These eight years have witnessed some of the darkest periods of our government. The crisis our beloved country has been through these last several years has left a scar on our national psyche,” the President-elect stated.

Mr. Mahama criticised the outgoing administration for what he described as “bad governance, weak leadership, and misplaced priorities,” which, he argued, contributed to the current state of the nation.

He continued that: “This outcome is a repudiation of bad governance, weak leadership, and misplaced priorities. The people of Ghana have made it clear that they demand better,” he said.

Despite acknowledging the magnitude of the challenges ahead, Mahama struck a hopeful note, expressing his determination to work with Ghanaians to rebuild the country.

“We intend to work together to restore the shattered confidence in our politics and governance system,” he declared.

The President-elect also stressed the importance of resetting the relationship between citizens and their leaders.

“It will have to start with a reset of the relationship between citizens and elected officials,” he said, promising to implement governance reforms aimed at transparency and accountability.

Looking ahead, Mr. Mahama expressed confidence in the country’s ability to recover.

“We are determined to work together with you to build the Ghana we want, and I am certain that we shall win this battle.

“Let us not give in to pessimism. Instead, let us work tirelessly to rebuild our nation,” he added.