Old rivals face off again in Ghana’s tight presidential election | Ghana



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Voters in Ghana will go to the polls on Monday to elect the country’s next president, in what is expected to be a close race between incumbent Nana Akufo-Addo and his predecessor, John Mahama.

The two longtime rivals, meeting for the third time in a row in their quest for a second and final term, are considered the two pioneers in a crowded field of 12 candidates.

The campaign has primarily focused on the economy, infrastructure development, and management of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fight against corruption has also figured prominently in the run-up to the elections during which the political rivalry that has defined the campaigns of both Akufo-Addo, the centrist New Patriotic Party (PNP), and the Mahama of the left-leaning National Democratic Congress (NDC) was widely on display.

“Candidates have spent more time exchanging words rather than focusing on the challenges people face,” said Michael Opoku, a 54-year-old merchant from Kumasi, Ghana’s second largest city.

“I want a better Ghana that guarantees my future. I am not so concerned about voting for a political party, but my vote will be for those who want to make a difference when they are elected to office, “he added.

Despite intense political tensions, the top two candidates signed a pact for good conduct and peaceful elections on Friday at a ceremony in the capital Accra, attended by traditional and religious leaders, as well as international observers.

Monday’s vote will be the eighth since Ghana’s first step toward multi-party democracy in 1992. The country has a strong record of smooth power transitions, and Ghanaians hope the country builds on its reputation as one of the most stable democracies. from West Africa.

The PNP and the NDC have peacefully exchanged power several times over the past decades, but friction is high this year amid accusations from the opposition about the independence of the electoral commission. Last month, Mahama alleged that the body set out to organize “a flawed election” and threatened to reject the results.

“Recent events under the current administration have generated many moments of doubt about the ability of this administration to carry out peaceful and nonviolent elections,” Mahama, 62, said in his speech at the peace pact signing ceremony. Friday.

Election officials have dismissed accusations by the opposition of attempting to rig the elections.

“There is already a lot of tension on the ground, especially from the opposition, about the likely outcome of the elections. The Election Commission should be fair to everyone, ”said Cynthia Ekow, a 29-year-old student from Accra.

For his part, Akufo-Addo, 76, promised that the will of the electorate will be respected.

“We believe in the elections and I am pleased to give my word that we will accept the verdict of the people of Ghana,” he said at the ceremony.
“Above all, I promise that the peace, unity and security of Ghana will be our primary consideration.”

Professor Kwesi Aning, director of the Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center in Accra, said the concerns about the post-election period were real.

“Although a peace pact has been signed to deal, especially with the consequences of the results, work must be done with sensitive grassroots supporters about the law and the need to respond to legal disputes,” he said.

“The responsibility rests with the party leaders and structures. Since history, there is a great gulf between the flowery words of peace and the speed with which the drums of war are beaten when there are electoral disputes.

Some 63,000 military and paramilitary officers have been deployed across the country to keep the peace during the electoral process and respond to possible unrest.

Ghana is a major producer of cocoa, gold, and oil. But its fast-growing economy took a hit during the coronavirus pandemic, deepening analysts’ concerns about high levels of public debt.

In April, the country received $ 1 billion in emergency funding from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to address the impact of the pandemic, and the economy is now projected to grow by as much as 1 percent.

Both Akufo-Addo and Mahama promised to improve infrastructure despite the country’s rising debt profile.

In recent weeks, Akufo-Addo emphasized his government’s record on education and access to electricity and pledged to build a new airport in the central region of the country.

Mahama has highlighted the public works carried out during his four years in office (2012-2016) and promised to increase spending on infrastructure if he is reelected. It has also committed to providing free laptops to college students.

John Mahama chose former Education Minister Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as his running mate [Francis Kokoroko/Reuters]

The winner of the election will be decided by a simple majority for a candidate who obtains more than 50 percent of the votes. A second round will take place in 21 days if no candidate reaches the threshold of votes cast.

Unlike the previous elections, the results could be announced by the electoral commission within 24 hours after the vote in some 39,000 polling stations throughout the country.

“We are promoting certain efficiency in the system. We have worked with our numbers and we have a deadline within which the results must be transmitted, ”the president of the electoral commission, Jean Mensa, recently told reporters in the capital, Accra. “Due to the efficiency that we have introduced in the processes, we should be able to declare the results in 24 hours,” he said.

“When the results are announced on time, speculation about the outcome of the elections is reduced,” believed Ekow, the student.

Among the dozen candidates running for president are three women, including Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, the widow of former President Jerry Rawlings.

A total of 275 parliamentary seats will also be up for grabs in Monday’s elections.

Still, observers don’t expect power to shift from either the NPP or the NDC anytime soon.

Anning said Ghanaians will vote “primarily for peace.”

“The narrative is that change has not come and if change in terms of improvements in people’s lives is difficult to achieve, then they prefer peace at all costs.



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