Votes are being counted after Saturday’s basic election in Ghana, following a voting course of that was largely peaceable apart from a deadly capturing within the north of the nation.
Police stated 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 occasion 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 verify they forged 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 could possibly be changed with a well-known face, if former President John Mahama succeeds in his comeback try for the NDC occasion.
His important 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 occasion.
Other candidates embody Nana Kwame Bediako, a businessman well-liked with younger voters and Alan Kyerematen, who defected from the ruling NPP occasion final yr.
Close to 19 million Ghanaians are registered to vote.
Despite Ghana not too long ago bringing in more durable laws to drive up the numbers of ladies 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 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 occasion has ever gained 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 informed the BBC “it is necessary so that you can vote to decide on the very best to 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 give attention to schooling and jobs for the youth,” the retired college employee informed the BBC exterior 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 an in depth on Friday, Bawumia stated of his important rival: “What is obvious 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 immediately and the Ghana we would like collectively. A Ghana of alternative, 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 federal government remains to be in prolonged negotiations with worldwide lenders to attempt to restructure the loans.
Unemployment can be at a excessive – significantly among the many younger, whose views might have a big effect on the result of the election.
Additional reporting by Favour Nunoo in Accra and Damian Zane in London
