One shot useless on election day in Ghana

As voting continues in Ghana’s basic election, police say 4 males have been arrested following the deadly capturing of 1 particular person and the wounding of one other.

It occurred in northern city of Nyankpala the place troopers have since been despatched to revive calm.

Elsewhere election day has been peacefully carried out, with some Ghanaians queuing earlier than daybreak to verify they forged their ballots.

A debt disaster and excessive residing 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.

But he could possibly be changed with a well-recognized face, if former President John Mahama succeeds in his comeback try for the NDC celebration.

His foremost challenger is anticipated to be Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, who would change into the nation’s first Muslim chief if he wins for the governing NPP celebration.

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

Close to 19 million Ghanaians are registered to vote.

Despite Ghana lately bringing in harder laws to drive up the numbers of ladies in frontline politics, just one lady is within the operating to change into 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 identify will nonetheless be listed on poll papers as a result of the candidate chosen to succeed her was disqualified.

Saturday’s basic 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 gained the presidency.

No celebration has ever gained greater than two consecutive phrases in energy.

Voters have a 10-hour window on Saturday to forged their ballots – 07:00-17:00 GMT.

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

Election outcomes are set to be introduced inside three days.

In order 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 tip of December.

Voting for the primary time, 18-year-old Serwaa Yeboah Joshebeth informed the BBC “it is crucial so that you can vote to decide on one of the best in your nation”.

The current graduate desires to see extra job alternatives, “not for me alone however for others who want them [too].”

Kojo Yeboah, 95, agrees.

“The subsequent chief should concentrate on schooling and jobs for the youth,” the retired college employee informed the BBC outdoors a polling sales space within the metropolis of Kumasi.

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

As campaigns got here to a detailed on Friday, Bawumia stated of his foremost rival: “What is evident is that however the challenges we have had, we’ve carried out higher than the federal government of John Dramani Mahama.”

While Mahama informed supporters “it’s a alternative between the Ghana we’ve right this moment and the Ghana we would like collectively. A Ghana of alternative, prosperity, and justice for all.”

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

That identical yr, Ghana defaulted on its debt repayments and the federal government continues to be in prolonged negotiations with worldwide lenders to attempt to restructure the loans.

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

Additional reporting by Damian Zane