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"Model Democracy" put to the test

December 7, 2012

Ghanaians are voting in what has been billed by US President Barack Obama as a test for Africa’s "model democracy". Voters are casting their ballots in legislative and presidential elections.

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A ruling party supporter holds up a mock ballot marked for President John Dramani Mahama, at Mahama's final campaign rally ahead of Friday's presidential election, in Accra, Ghana, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012. After five coups and decades of stagnation, the West African nation of 25 million is now a pacesetter for the continent's efforts to become democratic. Ghanaians will go to the polls on Friday to choose between four candidates, including Mahama, a former vice president who assumed the top post in July after the death of president John Atta Mills, and former foreign minister Nana Akufo-Addo who lost the presidency by less than 1 percent in 2008.(Foto:Gabriela Barnuevo/AP/dapd)
Image: AP

Voters are lining up outside polling stations in the capital Accra and elsewhere in the country to vote for one of eight presidential candidates and for one of the political parties vying for the 275 seats in parliament.

Over 13 million people are eligible to vote in the West African country of 25 million inhabitants, which is a former British colony.

Opinion polls had predicted a tight race between the two main presidential candidates: Incumbent leader John Dramani Mahama, who replaced the late John Atta Mills after his sudden death from an illness in July, and main opposition candidate Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The previous election in 2008 was tight: Mills defeated Akufo-Addo with a margin of less than one percent and his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) got a majority in parliament.

This time the campaign has been focusing on the distribution of wealth, as a recent surge in oil revenues has brought an economic boom.

Opposition candidate Akufo-Addo - who is a trained lawyer and the son of a former Ghanaian president - has criticized the ruling party for a lack in progress with fighting poverty, creating jobs and investment in education.

Mahama, however, has promised to focus on infrastructure programs.

Provisional election results are expected within two days. If no presidential candidate wins a majority of 50 per cent, a run-off is to be held on December 28.

rg/sej (Reuters, dpa)

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A woman casts her ballot during presidential elections in Accra, Ghana, Sunday Dec. 28, 2008. Ghanaians returned to the polls Sunday for a presidential runoff vote with Nana Akufo-Addo of the ruling party facing opposition candidate John Atta Mills in an election expected to further solidify the country's status as one of Africa's few stable democracies.(AP Photo)

Countdown to vote in Ghana

Countdown to vote in Ghana

Ghana will hold a presidential electionn the December 7. Observers expect a tight race, and campaigning has been intense in Africa's 'model democracy.' (06.12.2012)
December 6, 2012