Ghanaians are casting their ballots in neck and neck presidential and parliamentary polls, held at a time of economic woes and corruption scandals that have eroded President John Mahama's lustre.

Mahama's main rival is veteran politician and former foreign minister, Nana Akufo-Addo. The winner of Wednesday's election will serve a four-year term in a formerly booming country that has seen its economy sputter, currency deteriorate and inflation soar.

There are some 15 million registered voters. Polling started at 07:00 GMT and will close at 17:00 GMT across the West African country.

READ MORE: Ghanaian voices oncoming presidential elections

An exporter of gold and cocoa, and one of Africa's most successful oil exporters, Ghana was once hailed as a regional growth model but has now taken on too much debt.

There are seven candidates battling for the top job and, if the smaller parties perform well and deny either man a majority, a presidential run-off will be held later in December.

Mahama, 58, is running for a second term, with Akufo-Addo, 72, making his third, and likely last, bid for the highest office.

Leaving nothing to chance on the last day of campaigning on Monday, Mahama held three rallies in the major swing regions of Brong-Ahafo, Ashanti and Greater Accra.

Mahama has announced several infrastructure projects during the campaign.

"Throughout the election campaign, the president approved a series of major and eye-catching infrastructure projects to prove to voters that government spending was not going to waste or being stolen," said Al Jazeera's Nicholas Haque, reporting from Accra.

"But the trouble is Ghana is spending more than it can afford. There are hospitals left half built. Despite pressing need for medical staff, the state can't afford to pay nurses or doctors any more."

Corruption scandals

Akufo-Addo, on the other hand, has campaigned on Ghana's poor economic growth, the slowest rate in two decades, at 3.3 percent in 2016, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and has outlined detailed plans to get the economy back on track.

He has lambasted Mahama's ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government over a series of corruption scandals in which scores of judges have been implicated. Critics say he squandered the country's commodity wealth and turned a blind eye to graft within his inner circle.

During his tenure, the Bank of Ghana controversially bought half a million dollars worth of gold Swiss watches for some of its staff.

The leader of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has also alleged that the ruling party is fomenting violence, a claim Mahama denies.

But tension is rising in advance of the high-stakes election.

Police said an NPP supporter was beaten to death, with six others left in critical condition, in clashes between supporters of the two main parties after a rally in the north on Monday.

Elections in Ghana are famously closely fought, with Mahama narrowly winning in 2012 with 50.7 percent.</s>Ghana elects on national level a head of state , the president, and a legislature. The president is elected for a four-year term by the people. The Parliament of Ghana has 275 members, elected for a four-year term in single-seat constituencies .]

The presidential election is won by having more than 50% of valid votes cast, whilst the parliamentary elections is won by simple majority, and, as is predicted by Duverger’s law , the voting system has encouraged Ghanaian politics into a two-party system , creating extreme difficulty for anybody attempting to achieve electoral success under any banner other than those of the two dominant parties. Elections have been held every four years since 1992. Presidential and parliamentary elections are held alongside each other, generally on 7 December. 1960 electio

Presidential elections were held for the first time in Ghana on 27 April 1960. The elections were held alongside a referendum on creating an executive presidency . The winner of the election would become the country’s first President if the new republican constitution was passed (which it did).

There were only two candidates in the election: Kwame Nkrumah , incumbent Prime Minister and leader of the Convention People’s Party and J. B. Danquah , United Party.

Kwame Nkrumah won the polls by getting 1,016,075 votes or 89.07% with J. B. Danquah garnering 124,623 or 10.93%.

Ghanaian parliamentary election was held on 29 August 1969. This was the first parliamentary election since the 1966 coup which toppled the Nkrumah government .

The election was to select members for the 140 seat legislative body and was won by the Progress Party led by Kofi Abrefa Busia who became the Prime Minister of Ghana .

Kofi Abrefa Busia and Progress Party garnered 877,310 votes and 105 seats; Komla Agbeli Gbedemah and National Alliance of Liberals got 463,401 votes and 19 seats.

Registered voters 2,362,665 and turnout of voters was 1,493,371

1979 election General elections were held in Ghana on 18 June 1979, with a second round of the presidential election on 9 July 1979. The presidential election resulted in victory for Hilla Limann of the People’s National Party , who received 62.0% of the votes in the run-off. Hilla Limann of the People’s National Party -631,559 votes; Victor Owusu of Popular Front Party – 533,928 Second Round: Hilla Limann – 1,118,305; Victor

Presidential elections were held in Ghana on 3 November 1992. The result was a victory for Jerry John Rawlings, who won 58.4% of the vote.

Jerry John Rawlings represented The Progressive Alliance, a coalition of the National Democratic Congress, the National Convention Party and Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere (EGLE) garnered 2,323,135 votes; Albert Adu Boahen of New Patriotic Party – 1,204,764 votes.

Registered voters 7,401,370 and turnout of voters was 3,978,070. 1996 election

General elections were held in Ghana on 7 December 1996. The presidential election resulted in a victory for the incumbent, Jerry Rawlings of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Registered voters 9,279,605 and turnout of voters was 7,266,693. 2000 election

General elections were held in Ghana on 7 December 2000, with a second round of the presidential election on 28 December. The presidential elections resulted in a victory for John Kufuor of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The election marked the first transfer of power via the ballot box in the country’s history. John Kufuor (NPP) – 3,131,739; John Atta Mills (NDC) – 2,895,575 votes. Since no candidate received more than 50% of the votes, a run-off election was held. Second Round Results: John Kufuor – 3,631,263; John Atta Mills – 2,750,124 Registered voters 10,698,652 and turnout of voters was 6,605,084 2004 election General elections were held in Ghana on 7 December 2004. The presidential elections resulted in a victory for incumbent John Kufuor of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

John Kufuor of New Patriotic Party – 4,524,074 votes; John Atta Mills of National Democratic Congress -3,850,368 votes Registered voters 10,354,970 and turnout of voters was 8,313,908 2008 election

General elections were held in Ghana on 7 December 2008. Since no candidate received more than 50% of the votes, a run-off election was held on 28 December 2008 between the two candidates who received the most votes, Nana Akufo-Addo and John Atta Mills .

Mills was certified as the victor in the run-off election on January 3, 2009, by a margin of less than one percent. It is to date the closest election in Ghanaian history. John Atta Mills of National Democratic Congress – 4,070,889; Nana Akufo-Addo of New Patriotic Party – 4,204,073.

Second round results: John Atta Mills – 4,527,909; Nana Akufo-Addo – 4,443,654 Registered voters 12,472,758 and turnout of voters was 9,094,364 2012 election

General election was held in Ghana on Friday 7 December 2012. Owing to the breakdown of some biometric verification machines, some voters could not vote, and voting was extended to Saturday 8 December 2012.

John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress was declared winner of the election with 50.7% of the vote.

The opposition New Patriotic Party filed a petition at the Ghanaian Supreme Court to review the election results. The petition failed.

(NDC) – 5,573,572; Nana Akufo-Addo (NPP) – 5,263,286. Registered voters 14,158,890 and turnout of voters was 11,246,982. 2016 election?



 

 

Profile of leading Candidates

John Dramani Mahama (NDC)

John Dramani Mahama was born in Damongo on 29 November 1958. He hails from Bole in the Northern region. His father, Emmanuel Adama Mahama , a wealthy rice farmer and teacher, was the first Member of Parliament for the West Gonja constituency and the first Regional Commissioner of the Northern Region during the First Republic under Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah .

Mahama had his early education at Achimota School and then proceeded to Ghana Secondary School ( Tamale , Northern region ) and the University of Ghana , Legon , receiving a bachelor’s degree in history in 1981 and a postgraduate diploma in communication studies in 1986.

He also studied at the Institute of Social Sciences in Moscow in the Soviet Union , specializing in social psychology; he obtained a postgraduate degree in 1988.

After completing his undergraduate education, Mahama taught for a few years. Upon his return to Ghana after studying in Moscow , he worked as the Information, Culture and Research Officer at the Embassy of Japan in Accra between 1991 and 1995.

From there he moved to the anti-poverty non-governmental organisation (NGO) Plan International ‘s Ghana Country Office, where he worked as International Relations, Sponsorship Communications and Grants Manager between 1995 and 1996.

Political career

John Mahama was first elected to the Parliament of Ghana in the 1996 elections to represent the Bole /Bamboi Constituency for a four-year term.

In April 1997, Mahama was appointed Deputy Minister of Communications. He was promoted to the post of Minister of Communications in November 1998, serving in that post until January 2001, when the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) handed over power to the New Patriotic Party ‘s government.

In 2000, Mahama was re-elected for another four-year term as the Member of Parliament for the Bole/Bamboi Constituency. He was again re-elected in 2004 for a third term.

From 2001 to 2004, Mahama served as the Minority Parliamentary Spokesman for Communications.

In 2002, he was appointed the Director of Communications for the NDC. That same year, he served as a member of the team of International Observers selected to monitor Zimbabwe ‘s Parliamentary Elections.

As an MP , he was a member of Standing Orders Committee as well as the Transport, Industry, Energy, Communications, Science and Technology Committee of Parliament.

In 2003 Mahama became a member of the Pan-African Parliament, serving as the Chairperson of the West African Caucus until 2011. He was also a member of European and Pan African Parliaments’ Ad-hoc Committee on Cooperation.

On 7 January 2009, Mahama became the Vice-President of Ghana . In line with Ghana’s constitution , Mahama became President of Ghana on 24 July 2012 on the death of his predecessor, John Atta Mills .



Nana Akufo-Addo (NPP)

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was born on 29 March 1944. His father's residence, Betty House at Korle Wokon in Accra, was effectively the headquarters of the country's first political party, the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC),

Three of the “ Big Six ” – the founding fathers of Ghana – were his relatives: J. B. Danquah (grand uncle), William Ofori-Atta (uncle) and Edward Akufo-Addo (his father).

Akufo-Addo received his primary education first at the Government Boys School, Adabraka, and later at the Rowe Road School (now Kinbu), both in Accra Central. He went to England to study for his O-Level and A-Level examinations at Lancing College , Sussex .

He returned to Ghana in 1962 to teach at Accra Academy Secondary School, before going to read Economics at the University of Ghana, Legon, in 1964, earning a BSc (Econ) degree in 1967.

He subsequently studied law in the UK and was called to the English Bar ( Middle Temple ) in July 1971. Akufo-Addo was called to the Ghana bar in July 1975.

He co-founded the law firm Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co., which has become one of the prominent law firms in Ghana.

Akufo-Addo was the first Chairperson of DHL (GH) Ltd; and the first Chairperson of the Ghana Committee on Human and Peoples’ Rights. He was responsible, through his association with the US company, Millicom, for introducing mobile telephony into the country. Political career

In his early thirties, Akufo-Addo was the General Secretary of the broad-based People's Movement for Freedom and Justice (PMFJ), this group led the “NO” campaign in the UNIGOV referendum of 1978.

In 1991, Akufo-Addo was the chairman of the Organising Committee of the Danquah-Busia Memorial Club, a club dedicated to the preservation of the memory and ideals of the two great advocates of Ghanaian democracy, J. B. Danquah and K. A. Busia .

In 1992, he was the first national organiser of the NPP. In 1992, Akufo-Addo set up and financed The Statesman newspaper, which has become the unofficial mouthpiece of the NPP.

In 1995, he led the famous “Kume Preko” demonstrations of the Alliance For Change (AFC), a broad-based political pressure group, which mobilised millions of people onto the streets of Ghana to protest the harsh economic conditions.

Akufo-Addo was elected three times between 1996 and 2008 as Member of Parliament for the Abuakwa South constituency in the Eastern region of Ghana. From 2001 to 2007, as Cabinet Minister, first as Attorney-General and Minister for Justice for two years, and later as Foreign Minister for five years, Akufo-Addo served in the government of President John Kufuor with distinction.

In August 2006, Akufo-Addo chaired the meeting of the Security Council which took the decision that halted Israel's massive incursions into Lebanon.</s>President John Dramani Mahama will this evening, December 6, 2016 address the nation, barely a day to the December 7 polls.

A statement from the presidency said the address will be live on radio and TV at 9pm.

“The President of the Republic of Ghana and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, HE John Dramani Mahama, will at 9pm tonight, on Ghana Television and Radio Ghana, address the nation ahead of tomorrow’s Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.”

Ghanaians to elect next president on Wednesday

About 15 million Ghanaian voters are expected to elect the country’s next president on Wednesday.

President John Mahama who is seeking a second term mandate is facing stiff opposition from Nana Akufo-Addo, presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Others in the race include: Ivor Greenstreet, presidential canididate of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Papa Kwesi Nduom of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr. Edward Mahama of the People’s National Convention and an independent candidate, Jacob Osei Yeboah.</s>One pollster predicts Ghana's incumbent President John Mahama will win elections with 52 percent of the vote on December 7, 2016. By PIUS UTOMI EKPEI (AFP)

Accra (AFP) - Ghanaians cast their ballots on Wednesday in neck and neck presidential and parliamentary polls held at a time of economic woes and corruption scandals that have eroded President John Mahama's lustre.

Mahama's main rival is veteran politician and former foreign minister Nana Akufo-Addo. The winner will serve a four-year term in a formerly booming country that has seen its economy sputter, currency deteriorate and inflation soar.

There are some 15 million registered voters. Polling starts at 0700 GMT and closes at 1700 GMT across the West African country.

An exporter of gold, cocoa and oil, Ghana was once hailed as a regional growth model but has now taken on too much debt.

There are seven candidates battling for the top job and if the smaller parties perform well and deny either men a majority, a presidential run-off will be held later in December.

Mahama, 58, is running for a second term, with Akufo-Addo, 72, making his third -- and likely last -- bid for the highest office.

Leaving nothing to chance on the last day of campaigning Monday, Mahama held three rallies in the major swing regions of Brong-Ahafo, Ashanti and Greater Accra.

Mahama's final rally was full of supporters wearing white -- a sign of victory -- banging cowbells, dancing and posing for selfies.

"We're celebrating already," said Alhaji Guntula, a 45-year-old businessman with his face painted white told AFP. "He's winning hands down."

Mahama has announced several infrastructure projects during the campaign.

In contrast, Akufo-Addo has hammered on Ghana's poor economic growth, the slowest rate in two decades at 3.3 percent in 2016 according to the International Monetary Fund, and has outlined detailed plans to get the economy back on track.

He has lambasted Mahama's ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government over a series of corruption scandals in which scores of judges have been implicated. Critics say he squandered the country's commodity wealth and turned a blind eye to graft within his inner circle.

During his tenure, the Bank of Ghana controversially bought half a million dollars worth of gold Swiss watches for some of its staff.

The leader of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has also alleged that the ruling party is fomenting violence, a claim Mahama denies.

But tension is rising ahead of the high stakes election.

Ghana police said a NPP supporter was beaten to death, with six others left in critical condition in clashes between supporters of the two main parties after a rally in the north on Monday.

Elections in Ghana are famously close fought, with Mahama narrowly winning in 2012 with 50.7 percent.

But polls in Africa this year have been a mixed bag of surprising triumphs and sobering failures for democracy.

In Gambia, a dictator of 22 years conceded defeat, while in oil-rich Gabon the Bongo family continued its 50-year reign after a disputed election. But Ghana is still seen as an example of peace and stability in West Africa.

Pollsters are divided in a country whose democratic credentials have come under scrutiny after criticism of its electoral commission following the 2012 elections.

"The inauguration of Mahama's projects have attracted the swing voters," said pollster Ben Ephson, who has predicted Mahama will win 52 percent of the votes, mainly from working class constituencies.

Following the last elections in 2012, Akufo-Addo -- who polled 47.7 percent of the vote -- contested the results in Ghana's constitutional court, although he was ultimately unsuccessful.

Akufo-Addo, who said previously that he would accept the results even if he loses, added recently: "Those are hurdles we have to jump once we get there".</s>Counting was underway in Ghana yesterday after presidential and parliamentary polls closed, in what has been touted a close contest between incumbent John Mahama and his rival Nana Akufo-Addo.

The majority of polling stations closed at 5:00PM on Wednesday, officials said.

The elections come at a time of severe economic decline in the West African country, and amid a volley of accusations of financial mismanagement on part of the ruling party.

For years, Ghana was one of Africa’s most dynamic economies. But it slumped in 2014 as commodities prices fell, and a fiscal crisis widened the budget deficit and elevated inflation.

Akufo-Addo’s New Patriotic Party says the government has mismanaged national finances, including revenue from oil from an offshore field operated by British company Tullow that became operational in 2010.

The government has denied the accusations and urged voters for vote it, arguing that growth would return to at least eight percent in 2017.

“Every Ghanaian should exercise their civic responsibility and come out and vote. The destiny of our country depends on it,” Mahama said as he cast his ballot in the town of Bole, Northern region.

At least 15 million people were registered to vote in Wednesday’s election.

A run-off between the top two candidates will follow if no candidate wins a majority.

Reports showed few voting problems, according to the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers. But voting was re-scheduled for yesterday in Jaman North constituency in Brong Ahafo region because of security concerns and logistical problems.

There are seven presidential contenders, including five minor candidates. In a parallel parliamentary vote, 275 seats are being contested.

Elections in Ghana are famously close races, with Mahama narrowly winning in 2012 with 50.7 percent.

Ghana is considered a beacon of democracy in West Africa, and has a history of peaceful elections.

The government of the day has lost power twice since 2000. But ahead of this week’s election there were reports of voter intimidation. Police said one person was beaten to death, with six others left in critical condition, in clashes between supporters of the two main parties after a rally in the north on Monday.

Meanwhile, hackers have targeted the website of Ghana’s electoral commission ahead of the release of results from a narrowly contested presidential election.

The commission reported the incident on Twitter yesterday, saying it deplored the “attempt to hack” the site, which was offline for a few hours early yesterday.

Despite a relatively peaceful election, tensions are growing after the main opposition New Patriotic Party on Thursday urged incumbent President John Dramani Mahama to concede defeat after the NPP’s internal polling data determined the opposition was poised to win.

The incumbent party denounced the press conference, calling it “irresponsible”, according to local media reports.

Election officials have urged Ghanaians to patiently await the official vote tallies and to dismiss purported results from unofficial sources.-AFP</s>Accra (AFP) - Ghana's New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate Nana Akufo-Addo is hoping it'll be third time lucky when the country votes for a new president on Wednesday.

Akufo-Addo, an erudite rights lawyer and former government minister with round tortoiseshell glasses, narrowly lost the 2008 and 2012 elections to the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

He contested the results in 2012 alleging electoral fraud, but ultimately accepted the Supreme Court's ruling upholding John Mahama's presidency.

Today Akufo-Addo, the son of a former president, has pledged to play by the rules and accept defeat even on the slimmest of margins, underscoring his commitment to keeping the peace in a country hailed as one of Africa's most stable democracies.

"The stability and progress of Ghana and advancement of her democracy guided our actions in those difficult days," Akufo-Addo said recently of the campaign.

Akufo-Addo is banking on the backing of voters who are frustrated with a litany of corruption scandals, unreliable electricity and sluggish economic growth.

While Mahama has been slow to address what voters perceive as worsening corruption, Akufo-Addo has promised to act quickly to stop a "borrowing binge" that has "mortgaged our future".

The 72-year-old campaigned hard across the country, brandishing his party's red, white and blue flag emblazoned with an elephant as a symbol for radical change.

An economic liberal, he has focussed on creating more jobs -- especially among youth who face growing levels of unemployment -- and on modernising the commodity-dependent economy.

His "one district, one factory" programme would encourage private sector investment, as would a policy of slashing corporate taxes.

Akufo-Addo was born in Kyebi, in the eastern region of Ghana into the political elite.

He is related to three of the "Big Six", politicians dubbed as Ghana's founding fathers, including his father who served as president.

Akufo-Addo, who speaks with a distinguished British accent -- he studied in England -- has enjoyed a successful career.

He worked in England and France before returning to Ghana.

When multi-party democracy was restored to the west African country in 1992 after decades of military rule, Akufo-Addo became involved with the NPP, later serving as both justice minister then foreign minister under President John Kufuor between 2001 and 2008.

In his last election stand-off with Mahama, he lost 47.7 to the 50.7 percent. Four years later, this will likely be his final bid for Ghana's top job.</s>Millions of Ghanaians all over the country will head to the polls this morning, December 7, 2016 to take part in the presidential and parliamentary elections.

A total number of 15, 712, 499 registered voters will be expected to cast their ballots when polls open at 7am across the country.

The Electoral Commission (EC) has already announced that voting will take place in 28, 992 polling stations across the 275 constituencies and over 15 million voters are expected to cast their ballot.

Today’s elections will be the seventh in the country's fourth republic.

Seven candidates including the incumbent John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the presidential candidate of the largest opposition party, New Patriotic Party, (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, will contest the presidential polls.

Also contesting in the presidential elections are the flagbearers of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Dr. Edward Mahama, the National Democratic Party (NDP), Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings and the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom.

Jacob Osei Yeboah, who also contested the polls in 2012 is the only independent candidate in the race.

2012 Election Petition

The 2012 presidential elections gained international media attention after the NPP contested the validity of the results of the polls at the Supreme Court.

The party accused the Electoral Commission of rigging the elections for President John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress.

Even though Mr. Mahama had been sworn in as the president, the hearing of the case which lasted for about eight months proceeded.

The apex Court eventually dismissed their case, with the NPP accepting the judgement of the court.

Special voting

Wednesday’s election started with 101,014 voters cast their ballots during Thursday and Sunday’s early voting.

The Electoral Commission (EC) announced an extra day for Special voting to prevent the special voters including security personnel, media and election officials from being disenfranchised.

The decision was taken after the first day of the exercise was fraught with challenges as hundreds of registered voters who had turned up to vote were turned away as their names were not on the register.

However, voters faced similar challenges on the second day.

The Electoral Commission which had initially decided to allow voters to cast their ballots in the constituencies of their choice announced on Wednesday that persons must vote in the constituencies they registered in.

This created some controversy as several persons who had their names in the registers of constituencies they lived in and had gone to the centres to vote were sent back.

Checks revealed that voters had to go back to the constituencies in which they had originally registered in order to cast their ballots.

The situation inconvenienced several people who had not been aware of the change and had turned up at the wrong polling stations and left them stranded.

Parliamentary Polls

Ghanaians will also elect their Members of Parliament (MPs) on December 7.

1,158 parliamentary candidates are contesting the 275 parliamentary seats according to the EC; only 136 aspirants, however, are women.

The parliamentary results will be declared at the constituency collation centres by the returning officers in each of the constituencies.

Parties end with massive rallies

The two leading parties, NDC and NDC, marked the end of the campaign period with huge rallies in the capital Accra.

The NPP held their final national rally on Sunday at the Trade Fair Centre with speeches from top officials of the party including the presidential candidate, Nana Addo, running mate, Mahamudu Bawumia, former President J.A Kufuor and Acting national chairman Freddie Blay.

NPP’s final rally at Trade Fair

Thousands of the party’s supported packed the streets for the rally, one of the NPP’s largest in years.

Thousands of supporters of the NDC also thronged the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday for the party’s final Greater Accra Regional rally.

Supporters and sympathisers of the governing party trooped into the stadium as the party capped off its campaign season in style.

Party officials took turns on the stage to address the crowd, including the General Secretary Asiedu Nketia and National Chairman Kofi Portuphy.

The Vice President also spoke at the rally, attacking the NPP’s change agenda and the party’s running mate in the elections Dr Mahamudu Bawumia over the “170 questions.

President Mahama was the final speaker, promising to ensure that the country goes through the elections peacefully.

He also called on Ghanaians to retain the NDC in power to continue the developmental projects which the party had started.</s>ACCRA, Ghana — Voters in Ghana are choosing Wednesday between their incumbent leader and a three-time opposition presidential candidate amid widespread concerns about the credibility of the country's electoral commission.

The commission faced intense criticism after thousands of names were missing from voter lists during the December 1 early voting exercise reserved for security personnel, election officials and journalists. After acknowledging the setback, voting was extended to a second day.

Despite those hitches, election officials and the leading parties have urged Ghanaians to trust the electoral process and commit to peace.

"We are very ready and prepared," said Eric Kofi Dzakpasu, the commission's communications head. "All (voters) need to do is take their ID cards, go to the polling stations, vote and go home as we count the ballots. Everything is in order."

In what is expected to be a close race between two veteran politicians, incumbent President John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress is facing off against main opposition leader Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party.

Candidates from four smaller parties are also on the ballot, including Ghana's first physically challenged contender and a former first lady.

This election marks the third time Akufo-Addo has run for president. In 2008, he lost by a narrow margin after a run-off to then-President John Atta Mills. He ran again in 2012, but lost to Mahama after alleging fraud and petitioning the Supreme Court to review the results. Now Akufo-Addo's party says that after eight years of an incompetent NDC-led government, Ghanaians are fed up.

"All the economic indicators show that this government has not performed," Curtis Perry Okudzeto, the NPP's deputy director of communications, told the AP. "The mood around the country shows that the people are ready for change. We're hopeful that we'll win by very comfortable margins."

Despite a boost in government revenues from oil production that began at the end of 2010, Mahama's first term was overshadowed by crippling power shortages, high inflation and a slowdown in overall economic growth. In 2015, Mahama's government agreed to a $918 million loan from the International Monetary Fund to create jobs and accelerate growth, a move the opposition says is evidence of the president's incompetence and economic mismanagement.

"Over the four years, we have managed to stabilize our economy," Mahama said Monday night in the capital Accra. "We have resolved our power challenges and we have significantly improved our social and economic infrastructures. We can only advance faster if we press on and stay the course. That is how we can consolidate the gains we have made."

The 58-year-old Mahama previously served as a member of parliament and the minister for communications before becoming vice-president in 2009. After the sudden death of President Atta Mills in July 2012, Mahama ascended to the presidency to serve the remaining five months of his predecessor's term.</s>Accra, Dec 07, GNA - Voting ends in Ghana's seventh consecutive Presidential and Parliamentary Elections as the electorates vote to choose a President and 275 Parliamentarians after a gruelling electioneering campaign as the country continues to build on its democratic credentials.

According to the Electoral Commission (EC), presiding officers were to allow voters in the queue before 17:00 to cast their ballot. Counting of Ballot is expected to start immediately and results declared at each polling station.

Results from polling stations within a constituency will be collated at a Constituency Collation Centre, where afterwards the Returning Officer for the Constituency will declare the winner of the Parliamentary Polls.

Results of the Presidential polls are forwarded to Accra, the EC headquarters for collation and final certified results declared by the EC Chairperson who is the Returning Officer for the Presidential Polls.

An estimated 15,712,499 registered voters were expected to cast their votes in about 28,992 polling stations across the country.

Seven Presidential Candidates representing six Political Parties and an Independent Candidate are contesting the Presidential Elections: Convention Peoples Party (CPP); National Democratic Party (NDP); National Democratic Congress (NDC); Progressive Peoples Party (PPP); New Patriotic Party (NPP) and People's National Convention (PNC).

President John Dramani Mahama of the NDC, who is seeking a second term, is being challenged by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the NPP, Mr Ivor Kobina Greenstreet of the CPP, Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom of the PPP; Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings of the NDP, Dr Edward Mahama of the PNC and Mr Jacob Osei Yeboah the Independent Candidate.</s>President John Dramani Mahama is hopeful Ghana's democracy will further be strengthened after Wednesday's election.

According to him, Ghana's tag as a beacon of democracy in the African sub region will go a notch higher after the election.

“I believe in the strength of our democracy and I am confident that Ghana will emerge from tomorrow's poll even stronger and more respected among the committee of nations,” he said while addressing the nation.

Ghanaians will go to the polls on Wednesday to elect the next president for the country as well as elect members of parliament to represent them in the law making arm of government.

So far the country seems tensed with many calling for peace before, during and after the election.

This follows violent clashes that had erupted in recent times between supporters of the two biggest parties in the country – the New Patriotic Party and the governing National Democratic Congress.

But according to President Mahama “securing a peaceful election will rest heavily on how we conduct ourselves” and further called on Ghanaians to comport themselves during the polls.

The president also used the opportunity to encouraged Ghanaians to vote in Wednesday's poll and also admonished polling officials to conduct themselves in a neutral manner.

“All is ready for a successful election. It is your civic responsibility to vote. Let everyone exercise their franchise in deciding who governs our dear country in the next four years…I believe in the strength of our institutions to undertake this task and I urge all polling officials and others who will be on duty in connection with the election to conduct themselves in a fair and neutral manner,” he added.
Voters go to the polls in Ghana for the country's presidential elections. It is expected to be a close race between incumbent president John Dramani Mahama of the ruling National Democratic Congress party and his rival Nana Akufo-Addo and his New Patriotic Party.