—–As more ex-presidents return to power, citizens across Africa are asking whether familiarity brings progress — or disappointment.
By Jefferson Massah /jeff.massah24@gmail.com
Journalist and Sustainable Development Professional, Liberia
Across Africa, a political trend is quietly but steadily reshaping the leadership landscape — the return of former presidents to power. From Ghana and Malawi to the Republic of Congo and beyond, the phenomenon of “second-chance presidencies” is testing whether experience truly guarantees better governance or simply recycles old habits in new political clothing.
In the past year alone, Ghanaians and Malawians have each voted to bring back leaders they once rejected. Ghana’s John Dramani Mahama, defeated in 2016, made a striking comeback in January 2025, promising to “reset” the economy and restore trust in government. In Malawi, Peter Mutharika, ousted in 2020 amid corruption scandals, reclaimed the presidency in September 2025, pledging to stabilize the economy and create jobs. Across the continent, similar stories echo — politicians with familiar names, once criticized for their failures, now re-emerging as supposed agents of renewal.
The question confronting African voters and analysts is whether these returning leaders can genuinely meet the expectations of their citizens — or whether nostalgia and frustration are driving people back to the past.
Why Voters Are Turning Back the Clock?
Voters often return ex-presidents to power for practical rather than ideological reasons. Widespread economic hardship, inflation, unemployment, and governance fatigue have created an appetite for “tested” leadership. In countries where democratic transitions have failed to improve daily life, many citizens see the return of a former president as a safer bet than gambling on untested political newcomers.
In Ghana, Mahama’s message of economic recovery resonated with voters facing currency depreciation and food price shocks. His promise to negotiate a better deal with the International Monetary Fund and invest in energy reform drew support from a weary electorate. Similarly, in Malawi, Mutharika’s comeback rode on frustrations with corruption and policy paralysis under his successor.
Yet, voter nostalgia can be deceptive. The socio-economic realities facing returning leaders are often more complex than during their first terms. Debt burdens are heavier, donor confidence is weaker, and the demands of a youthful, digitally connected electorate are more intense.
Old Leaders, New Realities
The political and economic environment of today’s Africa is vastly different from that of a decade ago. Climate change, social media activism, and an increasingly assertive youth population have transformed the governance space. A president who ruled comfortably in the 2010s must now navigate a far more demanding, connected, and impatient citizenry.
For Mahama and Mutharika, the challenges are formidable. Ghana’s debt-to-GDP ratio remains high, its cedi continues to struggle, and public trust in political institutions is fragile. In Malawi, poverty and food insecurity persist, worsened by climate shocks and declining foreign reserves.
Returning leaders also face institutional fatigue — more fragmented parliaments, opposition parties that are stronger, and civil societies that are less forgiving. Unlike in their first terms, when political dominance was often assured, comebacks demand coalition-building and compromise. Without these, policy implementation stalls quickly.
The Burden of Old Networks
One of the recurring problems with political comebacks is the reactivation of old patronage networks. Leaders often rely on loyalists who helped them return to power — many of whom expect rewards in the form of appointments, contracts, or influence. This recycling of political elites often undermines promises of change.
If returning leaders fail to distance themselves from the same figures who contributed to their earlier downfalls, citizens’ optimism can quickly erode. Ghana’s ongoing controversy over judicial independence and Malawi’s debates about the reappointment of controversial advisers already hint at the re-emergence of old political behaviors.
To break this cycle, returning presidents must consciously surround themselves with fresh technocratic talent — individuals driven by innovation, not loyalty. Without such renewal, the slogan of “experience and stability” becomes a disguise for stagnation.
Economic Promises and Harsh Realities
Another reason returning presidents often disappoint is that their campaign promises collide with economic reality. Many African economies are under severe fiscal pressure due to post-pandemic debt, climate-related disasters, and shrinking donor support.
Voters expect immediate relief — job creation, price stabilization, and better services — but these require long-term reforms. When tangible results fail to materialize within months, frustration grows, and public support dwindles. For example, Mahama’s pledge to reindustrialize Ghana and Mutharika’s plan to create 500,000 jobs may take years before producing visible outcomes.
The sustainability challenge, therefore, lies in balancing short-term social relief with credible long-term reforms. Without clear communication, transparency, and regular progress reporting, even well-intentioned policies risk being misunderstood or rejected by citizens.
Implications for Liberia and the Region
For Liberia and its neighbors, this continental pattern offers sobering lessons. Political renewal should not mean recycling leaders but rethinking governance models. Liberia’s democracy is maturing, and future leadership transitions will test whether voters prioritize experience over innovation, or vision over nostalgia.
As a journalist and sustainable development professional, I believe the region must focus less on personalities and more on systems — on strengthening electoral accountability, public finance transparency, and civic participation. If institutions remain weak, even the most charismatic comeback will eventually disappoint.
The resurgence of ex-presidents across Africa reflects both hope and frustration. Hope that familiar faces can fix familiar problems — and frustration that new leaders have failed to deliver. But leadership is not a rerun; it is an adaptation. The continent’s new wave of returnees will be judged not by what they did before, but by how they respond to today’s challenges — economic uncertainty, climate stress, and youth empowerment.
History shows that second chances are rare in politics. Those who get them must use them wisely — not to relive their first term, but to redeem it.
About Jefferson Massah
Jefferson Massah is a Liberian journalist and sustainable development professional with extensive experience in media development, development communication, and solution journalism. He previously served as Senior Advisor with Internews Liberia, supporting independent media and civic engagement initiatives. A recipient of the George Atkins Communications Award and a two-time Development Journalist of the Year (Press Union of Liberia). He holds a Master of Science in Sustainable Development from the School of Global Affairs and Policy at Cuttington University and received professional training in broadcast journalism under the U.S. State Department Fellowship program.
