Eighteen million people in Ghana will choose their next president and 275 parliamentarians on Saturday amid the country's worst economic crisis in decades.
The race pits Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) against former president John Dramani Mahama of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), with 10 other candidates also running.
Outgoing president Nana Akufo-Addo, first elected in 2016, is completing his second and final term, leaving behind a troubled economy many observers blame on his administration.
Ghana gets ready for key elections as over 18 million voters face economic challenges
IMF review
Economic hardship is the central issue for most voters.
Years of excessive borrowing, compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and rising global interest rates, have left Ghana’s public debt soaring from 63 percent of GDP in 2019 to 92.7 percent in 2022.
Inflation peaked above 54 percent, devastating household budgets and forcing businesses to cut back.
Accra-based Global InfoAnalytics has released polls showing that the majority of Ghanaians are struggling with a cost of living crisis, making this a key election issue – alongside jobs, education and infrastructure.
This week, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed its third review of Ghana’s $3 billion bailout programme, announcing a $360 million disbursement.
Ghana has sought IMF assistance 17 times since gaining independence in 1957.
Two-horse race
Economic woes aside, Ghana has, since its independence, known political alternance, almost no ethnic tension and peaceful elections.
There are 12 candidates competing in this presidential election, with those representing the two major parties leading the race.
Former president and leading opposition candidate Mahama is proposing a "24-hour economy" as a platform for his NDC party.
His supporters told RFI's correspondent in Accra this is the only way to effectively create jobs. “We need John Mahama, he is a nation builder,” said one. “I don’t have a job, so when the 24-hour economy comes in, there will be jobs and I can benefit from it,” added another.
Ghana thrusts economy into limelight in tight race for president
The NPP and its candidate, Vice-President Bawumia, are banking on the legacy of President Akufo-Addo as their best asset – in particular the free public high schools he set up.
“Bawumia is proposing realistic reforms, especially for our future and education,” one of his supporters told RFI. “Mahama was once president, and he wants to come back? We don’t accept it,” said another.
The result between the two lead candidates is expected to be close, according to Francis Kpatindé, a senior UN official who worked in Ghana for four years.
Kpatindé told RFI that the two men have several things in common, both being in their sixties and both from northern Ghana.
But he believes the advantage could in the end go to former president Mahama, thank to the blame for the current economic crisis being laid at the door of the outgoing government.
(with newswires)
