Ghana election results: Vote counting begins as new president awaits

Votes are being counted after Saturday’s common election in Ghana, following a voting course of that was largely peaceable apart from a deadly capturing within the north of the nation.

Police mentioned 4 males have been arrested at a polling station within the city of Nyankpala, the place an opposition MP candidate had tried to file a criticism however was stopped by ruling social gathering supporters.

Soldiers have since been despatched to Nyankpala in armoured automobiles to revive calm.

Elsewhere election day has been peacefully performed, with some Ghanaians queuing earlier than daybreak to ensure they solid their ballots.

Polling centres formally closed at 17:00 GMT, and election outcomes are anticipated to be introduced on Tuesday.

Ghana’s land borders have been closed till Sunday night, in a transfer that correspondents describe as uncommon.

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.

But he may very well be changed with a well-recognized face, if former President John Mahama succeeds in his comeback try for the NDC social gathering.

His essential challenger is predicted to be Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, who would turn out to be the nation’s first Muslim chief if he wins for the governing NPP social gathering.

Other candidates embody Nana Kwame Bediako, a businessman in style with younger voters and Alan Kyerematen, who defected from the ruling NPP social gathering final yr.

Close to 19 million Ghanaians are registered to vote.

Despite Ghana recently bringing in tougher legislation to drive up the numbers of women in frontline politics, just one lady is within the operating to turn out to be president – Nana Akosua Sarpong Frimpomaa of the Convention People’s Party (CPP).

The solely different feminine presidential candidate on this election – Akua Donkor of the Ghana Freedom Party – died in October. Yet her title will nonetheless be listed on poll papers as a result of the candidate chosen to succeed her was disqualified.

Saturday’s common election additionally sees voters in 275 constituencies throughout the nation selecting their members of parliament.

Since the return of multi-party politics to Ghana in 1992, solely candidates from both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) or the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) have received the presidency.

No social gathering has ever received greater than two consecutive phrases in energy.

In order to win within the first spherical, a presidential candidate should achieve 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.

Voting for the primary time, 18-year-old Serwaa Yeboah Joshebeth instructed the BBC “it is important for you to vote to choose the best for your country”.

The latest graduate needs to see extra job alternatives, “not for me alone but for others who need them [too].”

Kojo Yeboah, 95, agrees.

“The next leader must focus on education and jobs for the youth,” the retired college employee instructed the BBC exterior a polling sales space within the metropolis of Kumasi.

“I benefit from stipends from the state at my age already,” he provides.

As campaigns got here to a detailed on Friday, Bawumia mentioned of his essential rival: “What is clear is that notwithstanding the challenges we’ve had, we have performed better than the government of John Dramani Mahama.”

While Mahama instructed supporters “it is a choice between the Ghana we have today and the Ghana we want together. A Ghana of opportunity, prosperity, and justice for all.”

Ghanaians have been hit significantly laborious by inflation in recent times, which reached a peak of 54.1% in 2022. Although it has since come down, many 1000’s of individuals have been pushed into poverty and residing requirements have suffered, says the World Bank.

That similar yr, Ghana defaulted on its debt repayments and the government is still in lengthy negotiations with international lenders to try and restructure the loans.

Unemployment can also be at a excessive – significantly among the many younger, whose views may have a huge impact on the end result of the election.

Additional reporting by Favour Nunoo in Accra and Damian Zane in London