Who are the candidates?

Ghana will elect a brand new president after elections in December. Present Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia and former Head of State John Mahama are the 2 foremost candidates vying for election victory.

Nana Akufo-Addo, first elected in 2016, is finishing his second and ultimate four-year time period.

On Saturday, December 7, practically 18.8 million Ghanaians registered to vote will be capable to take part within the nation’s ninth common election for the reason that reintroduction of multi-party politics within the early Nineteen Nineties.

The nation has had a collection of heated however peaceable elections over the previous 30 years. Ghana has a popularity for orderly transfers of energy between governments.

On polling day, two elections might be held concurrently:

• President – There are 12 candidates
• parliament – Voters in 275 constituencies throughout the nation will elect their MPs.

Though 12 candidates are vying for the presidency, solely two have a sensible probability of successful. For the reason that return of multiparty politics in 1992, solely candidates from the Nationwide Democratic Congress (NDC) or the New Patriotic Get together (NPP) have gained.

The 2 leaders are:

• Mahamudu Bawumia (NPP) – The 61-year-old Oxford-educated economist, who served as Akufo-Addo’s vice-president for eight years, might make historical past because the nation’s first Muslim president. The previous central financial institution deputy governor has a popularity for his monetary experience. But it surely is also his undoing, as he faces harsh criticism after Ghana plunged into its worst financial disaster in years underneath his management.
• John Mahama (NDC) – Successful this vote would symbolize a comeback for the 65-year-old president, who had been president for 4 and a half years beginning in 2012 earlier than shedding the 2016 election. Throughout his tenure, he was nicknamed “Mr. Dumsol”, a reference to the facility outages that plagued his tenure. Amid the present financial difficulties, Mahama promised “pressing changes” to a rustic that wants skilled leaders on the helm.

Different candidates attracting consideration embody:

• Nana Kwame Bediako – Also called “Cheddar”, the businessman has no political background however has made a big effect on social media and attracted younger supporters.
• Alan Kiriematen – The previous minister nicknamed “Alan Money” left the NPP final yr after complaining that the presidential primaries had been biased in opposition to him. He’s prone to acquire some NPP help within the social gathering heartland of the Ashanti area.

Financial points have develop into individuals’s greatest concern Within the run-up to the election, the price of residing specifically rises. On the finish of 2022, the annual inflation price reached 54%. Costs have since declined, however costs are nonetheless rising sharply.

The World Financial institution says as many as 850,000 Ghanaians might be pushed into poverty in 2022 on account of rising costs for items and providers. These “new poor” be a part of the six million individuals already residing in poverty.

By the tip of 2022, authorities funds had been depleted with little cash left to help the nation’s funds, forcing Ghana to hunt help from the Worldwide Financial Fund.

Youth unemployment and an exodus of Ghanaians in search of higher alternatives elsewhere have additionally characterised latest years.

The NDC condemned this as a “poor efficiency” and known as for a restart.

The ruling NPP says it has constructed a resilient financial system and is “on the cusp of transformation” so now just isn’t the time for change.

Considerations in regards to the environmental influence of unlawful gold mining – often called “galamsey” within the nation – has develop into one other main speaking level. Within the run-up to the vote, a collection of demonstrations had been held in opposition to the observe, which has led to the contamination of a number of main rivers with harmful chemical compounds.

Each main events consider the problem must be addressed, however whereas the NPP says it is necessary for the financial system to permit some small-scale miners to proceed mining, the NDC has known as for tighter rules and limits on new licenses.

To win within the first spherical of the presidential election, a candidate should obtain a majority of the votes solid. If nobody passes this threshold, a runoff might be held on the finish of December between the 2 candidates with probably the most votes.

Congressional elections are held by a easy first-past-the-post system, with the candidate receiving probably the most votes in every constituency successful, even when the vote share is lower than 50%.

On Election Day, each voter can convey their voter ID card to a delegated polling station, the place their fingerprints might be checked electronically and they’re going to obtain two ballots. Every voter’s pinky finger is then coated with indelible ink to stop a second vote.

Since 1992, Ghana has skilled a number of shut presidential elections.

In 2008, the 2 candidates had been separated by lower than half a proportion level within the runoff.

Within the election 4 years later, the winner, Mahama, crossed the 50% threshold within the first spherical by lower than 80,000 votes.

The outcome prompted a authorized grievance from the NPP, which mentioned vote tallies at some polling stations had been tampered with. The problem was unsuccessful however did immediate the electoral fee to take new steps to make sure better transparency.

Election observers usually praised the way in which the vote was carried out.

Based mostly on previous elections, the Election Fee could announce the outcomes earlier than December 10.

Further reporting by Favor Nunoo and Komla Adom in Accra