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Ghana began tallying votes on Saturday following a closely fought election, with Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia of the ruling party battling to overcome voter frustration over economic hardships. His bid faces a formidable challenge from opposition leader and former president John Mahama, who is attempting a political comeback.
Ghana’s election was heavily influenced by the country’s economic woes. As a key producer of gold and cocoa, the nation has been navigating the turbulent waters of a debt default, persistent inflation, and a $3 billion financial rescue package from the IMF.
The election marked a turning point for Ghana as citizens decided who would take over from President Nana Akufo-Addo, completing his maximum two terms in office. Parliamentary seats were also up for grabs, further shaping the country’s governance.
The peaceful atmosphere of Ghana’s elections was shaken in the northern town of Nyankpala, where gunfire left one person dead. Police apprehended four suspects following the incident, which stood out amid an otherwise calm voting process, according to local media.
When voting concluded at 1700 GMT, election officials wasted no time starting the count. Observed by party agents to guarantee fairness, the results were then packaged and transported to collation centers, marking the next phase of the electoral process.
Preliminary results are expected early Sunday, with full presidential results scheduled by Tuesday.
“Everyone is complaining prices are high. So I want a change, I want a good president who will bring in changes,” Abdullah Mohammed, a student said after voting in Accra’s Nima district.
With a history of political stability, Ghana’s two main parties, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC), have alternated in power equally since the return to multi-party democracy in 1992.
Read also: Ghana’s S-Court Restores Ruling Party’s Majority In Parliament
Riding on the slogan “Break the 8,” a bold nod to the party’s ambition to shatter the traditional two-term limit in Ghanaian politics, the NPP has placed its hopes on Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia. However, his campaign has been weighed down by lingering criticism of President Akufo-Addo’s turbulent economic legacy.
“I think we have done a lot of work with our message to the people and the message has been well received,” Bawumia said after voting in his northern home Walewale.
A product of UK academia and a former central bank chief, Bawumia touts his credentials as the architect of economic recovery. He highlights a nation on the brink of revival, driven by ongoing digital reforms aimed at streamlining business operations, alongside free education and healthcare initiatives that promise to uplift the populace.
