Voters in the West African nation of Ghana are heading to the polls on Saturday to decide the country’s next parliament and president in tense, tightly contested elections that come amid biting economic hardship and general frustration with outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government.
The presidential election pits current Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) against his main challenger, former President John Dramani Mahama of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Bawumia and Mahama are both from the historically disadvantaged northern part of the country and have rallied hard to appeal to their support bases. Their approaches to the economy – Ghana’s main issue at present – differ. While the NPP favours a private sector growth approach, the NDC wants to implement more government intervention.
“These elections are unique because the north will likely determine the winner for the first time,” analyst Emmanuel Yeboah of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD) told media.
One of West Africa’s most prosperous and stable economies, Ghana is known for its largely peaceful transfers of power and its overall security in a region where armed groups hold sway.
With 34 million people, it is the second-most populous country in the region. The southern Akan group (46 percent) is the largest ethnic group and most Ghanaians (71 percent) are Christians. Accra is the capital city and the currency is the cedi.
Here is what you need to know about the vote:
The Electoral Commission of Ghana has approved 12 presidential candidates, but it is widely accepted that the presidential election is a two-horse race between the established NPP and the opposition NDC.
Presidential power has shifted between the two main parties in close elections since 1992. Neither party, however, has managed to “break the eight” or win three consecutive presidential terms. Presidential terms are for four years and no individual may serve more than two terms.
United Arab Emirates Dirham Exchange Rate
