Voters in Ghana are casting their votes today, December 7, to elect a new president and members of parliament.
This pivotal election will decide the successor to President Nana Akufo-Addo, who has reached the constitutional limit of two terms in office.
The polls come at a time when the nation faces severe economic challenges, which have heightened interest in the outcome.
The presidential race is mainly between Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and former President John Dramani Mahama of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Mahama is seen as the frontrunner, with polls suggesting he has an edge due to widespread dissatisfaction with the current administration.
The 66-year-old former president has pledged to renegotiate Ghana’s $3 billion International Monetary Fund bailout if elected.
Mahama previously served as president from 2012 to 2016 and is remembered for significant infrastructure investments, though his tenure faced criticism over power shortages and allegations of corruption.
Bawumia, 61, represents continuity for the ruling NPP but seeks to address concerns over economic management.
A former central banker and economist, he has promised to simplify the tax system and reduce government expenditure by 3% of GDP. If successful, he will make history as the first Muslim and the first non-Akan to lead Ghana’s government under the NPP.
In addition to the main contenders, the election features 10 other candidates. Among them are Alan Kyerematen, a former trade minister running as an independent after leaving the NPP, and Nana Kwame Bediako, a businessman campaigning on youth empowerment and industrialisation.
Ghana, renowned for its peaceful elections, is once again under global scrutiny. The stakes are high, and voters are hoping their decision will steer the country towards economic recovery and progress.
