Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has expressed strong confidence in his chances of winning Ghana’s presidential election, following Saturday’s polling.
The race has seen Bawumia, the NPP candidate, facing off against former President John Mahama of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in a closely contested battle for the presidency.
Bawumia, who is hoping to secure a historic third term for the NPP under their “Break the 8” slogan, voted early in his hometown of Walewale, dressed in a traditional white smock. “I am very hopeful of winning this election,” he told reporters, highlighting the positive reception of his party’s message to the people.
The Vice President, a former central banker and economist educated in the UK, pointed to the country’s economic recovery, the government’s digitalisation plans, and its free education and health initiatives as key achievements of his party.
However, he faced criticism over the economic record of President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration, particularly after the country’s debt default and the IMF bailout negotiations.
To safeguard the election’s integrity, Ghana temporarily closed its land borders from Friday night until Sunday, as confirmed by the Interior Ministry.
A brief security incident occurred when a man was arrested with a weapon at a polling station in Accra, according to the police.
Economic challenges, including high inflation and a debt crisis, have dominated the election discourse, with many voters expressing frustration over the state of the economy.
“We want to vote for change, the economic situation is very hard,” said retired policeman James Nsiah, who was waiting to vote in the Jamestown area of Accra.
As the polls closed at 1700 GMT, voting seemed relatively steady across various neighborhoods, with reports of both calm and slow turnout.
Early election results are expected to be announced on Sunday, with the full presidential results slated for release by Tuesday.
Voters are choosing a successor to President Akufo-Addo, who is stepping down after two terms, and will also elect a new parliament.
Ghana’s two major parties, the NPP and the NDC, have alternated power since the return to multi-party democracy in 1992, maintaining a history of political stability.
