FILE - Ghana Incumbent President, John Dramani Mahama candidate of the National Democratic Congress gesture to his supporters during a presidential election rally at Accra Sports Stadium in Accra, Ghana, Dec. 5, 2016.Former Ghanaian president John Mahama launched his campaign Thursday to recapture the post he held from 2012 to 2017. Mahama has run for Ghana’s highest office three times, losing in the last two elections to current President Nana Akufo-Addo. Mahama's campaign begins as Ghana's struggling economy is the country's top concern.

The atmosphere was filled with the blaring sounds of vuvuzelas amid drumming and dancing, as hundreds of supporters of the former president packed themselves into the auditorium in the Volta Region, a stronghold of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) party.Dressed in an all-white outfit – a color that signifies victory in Ghana – John Mahama argued that Ghana’s current situation requires a leader with experience like him.

“Ghana needs experience and not experiment. Ghana needs a leader who will hit the ground running on 7 January 2025," said Mahama. "Ghana needs a leader who will not be given an orientation and excursion through the Flagstaff House – the seat of government. Ghana used to be the shining light on the continent of Africa and I am of the strongest conviction that we can attain those heights again. I believe it and we’ll lead by exampleFILE - Supporters of John Dramani Mahama, Ghana's president and National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate attend his rally at Accra sport stadium, in Accra, Ghana, Dec. 5, 2016.

Mahama said the current government has failed Ghanaians, leading to the current economic hardship in the West African country.

“This government has been clueless, and in many ways callous. The unthinkable has happened and our country today is broken on all fronts," said Mahama. "Ghana is bankrupt. We are saddled with debts we simply cannot pay. We’ve suffered global humiliation of defaulting on our debts and being downgraded by all credit rating agencies to the lowest level ever seen in our history."

Ghana is facing its worst economic and financial crisis in decades, with an annual inflation rate of 53.6 percent in January.