Komla Adom/BBCVotes are being counted following Saturday’s general election in Ghana, following a largely peaceful voting process except for a deadly shooting in the north of the country.
Police said four men were arrested at a polling station in Nyankpala town, where an opposition parliamentary candidate tried to file a complaint but was prevented by ruling party supporters.
Since then, soldiers have been deployed to Nyankpala in armored vehicles to restore calm.
Elsewhere, election day passed peacefully, with some Ghanaians lining up before dawn to make sure they voted.
Voting centers officially close at 17:00 GMT and election results are expected to be announced on Tuesday.
Ghana’s land borders were closed until Sunday evening, in a move described by reporters as unusual.
The West African nation was assured of a new president when Nana Akufo-Addo stepped down after reaching the official limit of two terms.
But he could be replaced by a familiar face, if former President John Mahama is successful in his bid to return to the NDC party.
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 with young voters, and Alan Kyerematen, who defected to the ruling NPP last year.
Nearly 19 million Ghanaians are registered to vote.
Although Ghana recently enacted tougher laws to increase the number of women participating in frontline politics.there is only one woman running for president – Nana Akosua Sarpong Frimpomaa of the Congress People’s Party (CPP).
Komla Adom/BBCThe only remaining female presidential candidate in this election – Akua Donkor of the Ghana Freedom Party – died in October. However, her name will still be on the ballot paper as the candidate chosen to Her successor has been eliminated.
Saturday’s general election also saw voters in 275 constituencies across the country choose their members of parliament.
Since multiparty politics returned to Ghana in 1992, only candidates of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) or the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have won the presidency.
No party has ever won more than two consecutive terms in power.
Support Nunoo/BBCTo win in the first round, a presidential candidate must win over 50% of the votes. If not, the top two candidates will enter a second round of voting at the end of December.
Voting for the first time, Serwaa Yeboah Joshebeth, 18, told the BBC “it’s important that you vote to choose what’s best for your country”.
New graduates want to see more job opportunities, “not just for me but for others who need them too” [too].”
Kojo Yeboah, 95, agrees.
“The next leader must focus on education and youth employment,” the retired university worker told the BBC outside the polling booth in the city of Kumasi.
He added: “At my age, I already receive benefits from the state.”
As election campaigns came to a close on Friday, Bawumia said of his main rival: “What is clear is that despite the challenges we faced, we have performed better than John Dramani Mahama’s government .”
While Mahama told supporters “it 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 hit particularly hard by inflation in recent years, reaching a peak of 54.1% in 2022. Although inflation has since fallen, thousands of people have been pushed into poverty. poverty and living standards are affected. World Bank said.
That same year, Ghana defaulted on its debt and The government is still in the midst of lengthy negotiations with international lending institutions to try to restructure loans..
Unemployment is also high – especially among young people, whose views can have a major impact on election outcomes.
Additional reporting by Favor Nunoo in Accra and Damian Zane in London
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