Election day has arrived in Ghana, where a debt crisis and high cost of living have put the economy at the top of many voters' minds.
The West African nation is guaranteed a new president as Nana Akufo-Addo resigns after reaching the official two-term limit.
But he could be replaced by a familiar face, if former president John Mahama succeeds in his bid to return to the NDC party.
His main challenger is expected to be Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, who will become the country's first Muslim leader if he wins for the ruling NPP.
Other candidates include Nana Kwame Bediako, a businessman popular with young voters, and Alan Kyerematen, who left the ruling NPP party last year.
Nearly 19 million Ghanaians are registered to vote.
Although Ghana recently passed stricter legislation to increase the number of women at the forefront of politics.only one woman is in the running to become president: Nana Akosua Sarpong Frimpomaa, of the Convention People's Party (CPP).
The only other presidential candidate in this election, Akua Donkor of the Ghana Freedom Party, died in October. However, his name will still appear on the ballot because the candidate chosen to succeed him was disqualified.
Saturday's general election will also see voters in 275 constituencies across the country choose their MPs.
Since the return of multi-party politics to Ghana in 1992, only candidates from the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) or New Patriotic Party (NPP) have won the presidency.
No party has ever won more than two consecutive terms in power.
Voters have a 10-hour window on Saturday to vote, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. GMT.
Ghana's land borders were closed until Sunday evening, a move correspondents describe as unusual.
The election results are expected to be announced in three days.
To win the first round, a presidential candidate must receive more than 50% of the votes. Failing this, the two main candidates will participate in a second round which will take place by the end of December.
Voting for the first time, Serwaa Yeboah Joshebeth, 18, told the BBC “it's important that you vote to choose the best for your country”.
The recent graduate wants to see more job opportunities, “not just for me but for anyone who needs it.” [too]”.
Kojo Yeboah, 95, agrees.
“The next leader must focus on education and youth employment,” the retired academic told the BBC outside a polling station in the city of Kumasi.
“I already benefit from state benefits at my age,” he adds.
As the campaign ended on Friday, Bawumia said of his main rival: “What is clear is that despite the challenges we faced, we did better than the government of John Dramani Mahama.”
Mahama told his 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 particularly affected by inflation in recent years, which peaked at 54.1% in 2022. Although it has since declined, several thousand people have been pushed into poverty and their standard of living has deteriorated. says the World Bank.
The same year, Ghana was unable to repay its debt and the government is still conducting lengthy negotiations with international lenders to try to restructure the loans.
Unemployment is also at a high level, particularly among young people, whose opinions could have a big impact on the outcome of the elections.
Additional reporting by Damian Zane
#Voters #prepare #choose #president
,
