Election day has arrived in Ghana, the place a debt disaster and excessive dwelling prices imply the financial system is uppermost within the minds of many citizens.
The West African nation is assured a brand new president as Nana Akufo-Addo steps down after reaching the official restrict of two phrases in workplace.
However he may very well be changed with a well-recognized face, if former President John Mahama succeeds in his comeback try for the NDC get together.
His important challenger is anticipated to be Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, who would turn into the nation’s first Muslim chief if he wins for the governing NPP get together.
Different candidates embrace Nana Kwame Bediako, a businessman in style with younger voters and Alan Kyerematen, who defected from the ruling NPP get together final yr.
Near 19 million Ghanaians are registered to vote.
A person is as soon as once more assured to turn into the following president, regardless of Ghana not too long ago bringing in harder laws to drive up the numbers of ladies in frontline politics.
The one feminine presidential candidate on this election – Akua Donkor of the Ghana Freedom Get together – died in October. But her title will nonetheless be listed on poll papers as a result of the candidate chosen to succeed her was disqualified.
Saturday’s normal election additionally sees voters in 275 constituencies throughout the nation selecting their members of parliament.
For the reason that return of multi-party politics to Ghana in 1992, solely candidates from both the Nationwide Democratic Congress (NDC) or the governing New Patriotic Get together (NPP) have gained the presidency.
No get together has ever gained greater than two consecutive phrases in energy.
Voters have a 10-hour window on Saturday to solid their ballots – with polling stations set to open at 07:00 GMT and shut at 17:00.
Outcomes are set to be introduced inside three days.
So as to win within the first spherical, a presidential candidate should acquire greater than 50% of the vote. Failing that, the highest two contenders will enter a run-off vote to happen by the top of December.
As campaigns got here to an in depth on Friday, Bawumia stated of his important rival: “What is evident is that however the challenges we have had, we now have carried out higher than the federal government of John Dramani Mahama.”
Whereas Mahama instructed supporters “it’s a selection between the Ghana we now have right now and the Ghana we would like collectively. A Ghana of alternative, prosperity, and justice for all.”
Ghanaians have been hit notably arduous by inflation in recent times, which reached a peak of 54.1% in 2022. Though it has since come down, many 1000’s of individuals have been pushed into poverty and dwelling requirements have suffered, says the World Financial institution.
That very same yr, Ghana defaulted on its debt repayments and the federal government remains to be in prolonged negotiations with worldwide lenders to attempt to restructure the loans.
Unemployment can be at a excessive – notably among the many younger, whose views might have a big effect on the result of the election.
Further reporting by Damian Zane
