Ghana has begun tallying votes following a tightly contested presidential election on Saturday, where Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia faced off against former President John Mahama.
The election was heavily influenced by widespread voter frustration over economic difficulties.
Although the voting process was mostly peaceful, the police reported two deaths in separate incidents, casting a dark shadow over the proceedings.
The election was held to choose a successor to President Nana Akufo-Addo, who is stepping down after completing two terms.
Polls closed at 1700 GMT, with preliminary results expected by early Sunday, and the final official counts anticipated by Tuesday.
Economic issues were central to the election, as Ghana, once hailed as one of Africa’s most stable economies, has struggled with rising inflation, a weakened currency, and a $3 billion IMF bailout following a debt default.
Ballot counting is still in progress as election officials work to tally the votes in Accra.
Bawumia, a trained economist, campaigned on promises to stabilize the economy and further digitize services.
In contrast, Mahama focused on rebuilding the nation, including renegotiating the IMF deal and establishing a 24-hour economy.
Both candidates hail from northern Ghana, a crucial area that traditionally supports Mahama’s National Democratic Congress (NDC). Mahama, who served as president from 2012 to 2017, is seeking a political comeback after losing twice to Akufo-Addo.
Despite some signs of economic improvement, many Ghanaians remain dissatisfied.
While inflation has decreased from over 50% to 23%, challenges such as the high cost of living, job scarcity, and illegal gold mining continue to fuel frustration.
The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is seeking an unprecedented third term, campaigning under the “Break the 8” slogan, but it faces mounting criticism over its handling of the economy.
Additionally, northern Ghana has seen increasing threats from conflict spillovers from neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger, raising the stakes for this election.
