Thomas Synaepa-Addison, a Ph.D. student at the School of Information Technology, University of Cincinnati, has conducted an extensive research experience in infrastructure security, privacy, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies.
It explores key lessons in transitioning social media accounts and digital infrastructure between outgoing and incoming governments.
Drawing insights from the case of Ghana and the United States, his analysis sheds light on the challenges and best practices involved in navigating this critical aspect of modern governance.
2024 Elections in Ghana and the US
The year 2024 marked a significant milestone in global politics as many nations, including Ghana and the United States (US), went to the polls to elect their leaders.
Among these elections, the ones in Ghana and the US stood out for their remarkable similarities and outcomes, drawing global attention to the evolving dynamics of political campaigns in the digital age.
Both countries witnessed fierce contests between former presidents and incumbent vice presidents, a situation that added a unique historical twist to the electoral landscape.
Remarkably, in both cases, the former presidents, John Dramani Mahama of Ghana and Donald John Trump of the US emerged victorious, securing decisive wins that underscored the evolving power of modern campaign strategies.
A significant factor contributing to their electoral success was the strategic use of digital infrastructure, particularly social media.
In the US, Trump’s campaign benefited immensely from the active backing of Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter) and the most-followed individual on the platform.
Musk’s influence, combined with the platform’s reach, played a pivotal role in amplifying Trump’s messages and connecting him with millions of voters.
The ability to engage directly with the electorate through tweets, live broadcasts, and digital content proved to be a game-changer in the campaign.
Similarly, in Ghana, John Mahama’s campaign was bolstered by key social media influencers, notably KalyJay (@gyaigyimii), who leveraged their platforms to galvanize support and amplify his political messaging.
Social media trends, hashtags, and viral content played a crucial role in creating a strong narrative around Mahama’s campaign.
This strategy enabled his team to engage with younger voters, a demographic increasingly reliant on digital platforms for news and political engagement.
The 2024 elections highlighted the growing influence of digital technologies in shaping electoral outcomes.
Social media platforms, once seen primarily as spaces for social interaction, have now evolved into powerful tools for political communication and mobilization. In both Ghana and the US, these platforms allowed candidates to bypass traditional media channels, communicate directly with their audiences, and tailor their messages to specific voter segments.
Beyond social media, other digital infrastructures also played a critical role in the campaigns.
Campaign websites served as hubs for information, donations, and volunteer coordination, while applications were used to manage voter outreach, track polling data, and ensure effective communication among campaign teams.
In both countries, these digital tools enabled candidates to run more efficient and data-driven campaigns, maximizing their outreach and impact.
These elections serve as a testament to the transformative power of digital technology in modern politics.
They highlight the need for political actors to adapt to the digital age, where the ability to effectively leverage technology can significantly influence electoral outcomes.
As Ghana and the US move forward, the lessons from their 2024 elections will likely shape future campaign strategies, further solidifying the role of digital infrastructure in the democratic process.
Websites Transition
With the elections concluded and the Ghanaian president now in office and the US President with few days to be sworn into office, the focus is shifting from campaign strategies to governance.
However, the transition from a campaign-centered approach to a government-focused use of digital platforms has raised critical questions, particularly regarding the use of official websites and social media.
In Ghana, controversy has emerged over the official presidency website, presidency.gov.gh, being redirected to the campaign website, johnmahama.org though this has been argued to be temporary as new webpages are being worked on.
This move has sparked widespread criticism and concerns from experts and the public alike.
Many have highlighted the potential security risks and ethical implications of such a decision.
Desmond Israel, a cybersecurity professional and lawyer, took to LinkedIn to share his concerns, explaining that this redirection is not only a legal violation with punishable consequences but also poses significant risks of misinformation and governance challenges.
According to Israel, the decision undermines the integrity of official government communications, as the public might struggle to distinguish between campaign-related and official presidential information.
He further likened this situation to transferring property from the Office of the President to the president’s private ownership, a metaphor that underscores the gravity of the issue.
This act, he argued, blurs the lines between official governance and personal interests, raising questions about the ethical responsibilities of public officeholders.
The situation in Ghana serves as a critical case study in the challenges of transitioning digital infrastructure from campaigns to governance.
It underscores the importance of maintaining clear boundaries between government assets and private campaign tools, ensuring that digital platforms reflect transparency, accountability, and professionalism in governance.
Notably, there is currently no dedicated online platform providing access to the archives or content of the previous administration, further compounding concerns about the continuity and accessibility of governmental information.
The management of government-related websites in the United States demonstrates a more structured and transparent approach to transitioning digital platforms between administrations.
As of January 15, 2025, just days before the presidential inauguration, the official government website, whitehouse.gov, prominently displays content reflecting the current administration.
To preserve the work of past administrations, dedicated archival domains are created. For example, obamawhitehouse.archives.gov and trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov host materials from the presidencies of Barack Obama and first term of Donald Trump, respectively.
Both sites include a clear disclaimer at the top of their pages: “This is historical material ‘frozen in time.’ The website is no longer updated, and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work.”
This disclaimer informs users that the content remains static, with no ongoing updates or maintenance, while also highlighting the potential for broken links or incomplete functionality.
In addition to archival websites, personal domains linked to former presidents serve unique roles in their post-presidency lives. For instance, barackobama.com redirects visitors to
“The Office of Barack and Michelle Obama,” a platform dedicated to sharing updates on their post-presidency initiatives and activities. Conversely, donaldjtrump.com redirects to a campaign website promoting Donald Trump’s political endeavors.
Interestingly, the footer of this webpage includes the disclaimer: “Paid for by Never Surrender, Inc. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.”
This language suggests that the site may not be officially linked to Donald Trump as a presidential candidate, adding a layer of ambiguity to its purpose.
This system of website management reflects a clear and intentional distinction between official government resources and personal or campaign-related platforms.
By maintaining separate domains for archival content, active governance, and personal endeavors, the United States ensures transparency, preserves historical records, and upholds the integrity of government digital infrastructure during transitions of power.
This approach sets a high standard for ethical and effective management of digital assets, offering valuable lessons for other nations like Ghana navigating similar transitions.
Social Media, X Transition
X accounts played a crucial role during election campaigns, providing valuable insights into their transition and continued use following an election.
In Ghana, the account with the handle “@ghanaprecidency” and the account name “GhanaPresidency” raises some uncertainties regarding its official status.
The absence of a checkmark makes it challenging to verify the account as an official government entity.
The last post from the previous administration was published on August 30, 2023, at 06:39, while the first post under the new administration appeared on January 12, 2025, at 03:54.
Since the new administration assumed office on January 7, 2025, this indicates a continuation of activity on the same account, with posts resuming in line with prior posting patterns.
The X page is linked to the domain presidency.gov.gh, but this domain currently redirects to johnmahama.org, creating complications in verifying whether the domain was previously associated with the “@ghanaprecidency” account.
In contrast, the account with the handle “@JDMahama” and the account name “John Dramani Mahama,” linked to the campaign website of John Dramani Mahama (now President Mahama), has remained active in sharing updates about his journey.
After a brief hiatus following its last post in 2024 on December 29, 2024, the account resumed activity with a first post of 2025 featuring a 45-minute, 49-second video documenting highlights from his swearing-in ceremony.
This account holds a blue checkmark, signifying an active X Premium subscription and compliance with the eligibility criteria set by X for verified accounts.
The U.S. has implemented a distinct approach on X for the “White House” with some dedicated handles: “@WhiteHouse,” “@WhiteHouse45”, and “@ObamaWhiteHouse.” These accounts serve different purposes, each linked to respective official government and archival websites.
- @WhiteHouse: This handle is directly associated with whitehouse.gov, the official website of the seat of the U.S. government. The account provides current content about the functioning of the executive branch and the presidency, and the X account is linked to the same official platform.
- @WhiteHouse45: Linked to TrumpLibrary.gov, this handle focuses on content from the first term of President Donald Trump. The website’s footer clarifies that the Trump Presidential Library is part of the Presidential Libraries system, managed by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), a federal agency responsible for preserving presidential records.
- @ObamaWhiteHouse: This handle is connected to obamalibrary.gov, which serves as an archive for President Barack Obama’s presidency. Like the Trump Presidential Library, the footer emphasizes that the Obama Presidential Library is also part of the Presidential Libraries system under the stewardship of NARA.
Importantly, all three accounts carry a grey checkmark, as indicated by X’s Help Center, signifying that they represent government entities or multilateral organizations.
This multi-tiered structure demonstrates how the U.S. not only manages the transition of social media accounts between administrations but also ensures the preservation of historical records from past presidencies through official archives.
This approach highlights the U.S. government’s commitment to maintaining transparency and accessibility while preserving the integrity of past administrations’ digital records.
Conclusion
As both countries transition from campaign mode to governance, the management of digital assets particularly websites and social media accounts has become a focal point.
In Ghana, the redirection of official government websites to campaign-related domains raises critical concerns about the integrity and transparency of governmental communications.
This situation highlights the need for clear distinctions between state resources and private or campaign platforms, reinforcing the importance of maintaining professionalism and accountability in the digital age.
Conversely, the U.S. has demonstrated a more structured approach to managing digital transitions, with dedicated archival websites, active governance platforms, and separate domains for personal or campaign-related endeavors.
This framework sets a high standard for managing digital assets in a way that ensures transparency, preserves historical records, and upholds the integrity of governance.
In conclusion, the 2024 elections in both Ghana and the U.S. serve as a testament to the power of digital infrastructure in modern democracies.
They underscore the necessity for political actors to adapt to the digital era, where technological expertise and ethical management of digital platforms can significantly shape electoral outcomes and the functioning of government.
As these nations continue to evolve in their political landscapes, the lessons learned from their experiences will guide future campaigns and governance, cementing the role of digital technologies as both a tool for political engagement and a cornerstone of democratic integrity.