Polls open in Ghana in litmus test for democracy

The West African country considered a beacon of democratic stability is holding presidential and legislative elections.

Polls have opened in Ghana for a general election poised to test the country’s democratic stability in a region shaken by political violence and coups.

Voting opened at 7am [07:00 GMT] and will close at 5pm [17:00 GMT] on Saturday, with early results expected on Sunday and full results for the presidential election likely by Tuesday.

Vice president and former central banker Mahamudu Bawumia and opposition ex-president John Mahama are leading a closely fought race dominated by a worsening economic crisis. Both Bawumia and Mahama are from the historically disadvantaged northern part of the country, which is now likely to determine the outcome of the election. This is a departure from previous elections in which voters from the south of the country have played a more influential role.

President Nana Akufo-Addo will step down after his legally allowed two terms. Voters will also elect the country’s new parliament in these elections, with some 18.8 million people registered to vote in a nation of 34 million. Previous turnout in elections has been about 70 percent.

Ghana’s government temporarily closed all land borders from Friday night to Sunday to “ensure the integrity” of the vote, an interior ministry statement said.