Ghana's Crucial Election: A Struggle for Economic Rebirth

Ghana recently conducted a significant presidential election amid hopes of economic revival following a major debt crisis. President Nana Akufo-Addo steps down after two terms, with the race primarily between Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia and former President John Dramani Mahama.

On Saturday, Ghana witnessed a pivotal presidential and parliamentary election, which took place amidst the nation's hopes for overcoming the worst economic crisis in a generation. President Nana Akufo-Addo is set to step down after two terms as Ghana's leader, with his departure making room for a new administration in the country renowned as the world's second-largest cocoa and a major gold producer.

The election pits twelve candidate hopefuls against each other, yet the spotlight remains on Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and former President John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Opinion polls suggest a strong potential comeback for Mahama, despite his previous presidency from 2012 to 2016.

Voting stations opened early at 0700 GMT, with expectations of closing at 1700 GMT, awaiting provisional legislative results by nightfall. Amid financial pressures and calls for governance improvements, John Mahama has framed the economic crisis as a failure of current policy, proposing renegotiation of existing IMF bailout terms, while Bawumia touts economic recovery and institutional reforms.

(With inputs from agencies.)