Counting of votes has begun in Ghana amid the wait for a new President.

Votes are being counted in Ghana following Saturday’s general election, with the voting process largely peaceful except for deadly shootings in the north of the country.

Police said four people were arrested at a polling station in the town of Nyankapala, where an opposition MP candidate attempted to lodge a complaint but was stopped by supporters of the ruling party.

Soldiers have been sent to Nyankpala in armored vehicles to restore peace.

Elsewhere election day passed peacefully, with some Ghanaians queuing up before dawn to ensure they could cast their votes.

Polling stations officially closed at 17:00 GMT, and election results are expected to be announced on Tuesday.

Ghana’s land borders were closed until Sunday evening, in what reporters described as an unusual move.

The West African nation is guaranteed a new president as Nana Akufo-Addo steps down after reaching the official limit of two terms in office.

But if former President John Mahama is successful in his bid to return to the NDC party, he could be replaced by a familiar face.

His main rival is expected to be Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, who would become the country’s first Muslim leader if he wins for the ruling NPP party.

Other candidates include Nana Kwame Bediako, a businessman popular among young voters, and Allan Kyerematen, who defected from the ruling NPP party last year.

Approximately 19 million Ghanaians are registered to vote.

Despite Ghana recently introducing strict laws to increase the number of women in leading politicsOnly one woman is in the running to become president – ​​Nana Akosua Sarpong Frimpoma of the Convention People’s Party (CPP).

The only other female presidential candidate in this election – Akua Donkor of the Ghana Freedom Party – died in October. Yet his name would still be listed on the ballot papers because the candidate chosen to succeed him was disqualified.

Voters in 275 constituencies across the country are choosing their Members of Parliament in Saturday’s general election.

Since the return of multi-party politics to Ghana in 1992, only candidates from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) or the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) have won the presidency.

No party has come to power for more than two consecutive terms.

To win the first round, a presidential candidate must win more than 50% of the vote. Failing that, the top two contenders will participate in a run-off vote to be held by the end of December.

“It’s important for you to vote to choose the best for your country,” Serwaa Yeboah Joshbeth, 18, who was voting for the first time, told the BBC.

The recent graduate wants to see more job opportunities, “not just for me but for other people who need them.”

Kojo Yeboah, 95, agrees.

“The next leader should focus on education and jobs for the youth,” the retired university employee told the BBC outside a polling station in downtown Kumasi.

He further says, “I am availing scholarship from the state at this age itself.”

As the campaign ended on Friday, Bawumia said of his main rival: “What is clear is that despite the challenges we face, we have performed better than the government of John Dramani Mahama.”

While Mahama told supporters, “This is a choice between the Ghana we have today and the Ghana we want together. A Ghana of opportunity, prosperity and justice for all.”

Ghanaians have been particularly hard hit by inflation in recent years, which reached a peak of 54.1% in 2022. Although it has declined since then, many thousands of people have been pushed into poverty and living standards have suffered, World Bank says,

That same year, Ghana defaulted on its debt payments. The government is still in protracted talks with international creditors to try to restructure the debts,

Unemployment is also high – especially among youth, whose opinions can have a major impact on the outcome of elections.

Additional reporting by Favor Nunu in Accra and Damien Zane in London