Vote sorting, counting begin in Ghana general elections

By Isa Isawade

Sorting and counting of ballots have commenced in Ghana’s presidential and parliamentary elections as voting officially closed.

Ghanaians on Saturday 7 Dec. went to polls to elect a new president and parliament members who will steer the affairs of the West African country for the next four years.

Generally, the election went peacefully but there was an isolated incident of the death of a citizen in election violence in the northern part of the country, the BBC reported.

The country’s Electoral Commission had assured the citizens of a credible poll and to this end, the Interior Ministry announced the closure of land borders while the Army deployed personnel across the country for election materials and the electorate’s safety.

Though twelve candidates are gunning for the office of the President, the contest is actually between two leading candidates- current Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and his main challenger, former President John Dramani Mahama of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Announcement of results by the Election Commission which is the body constitutionally empowered to carry out the duty after completion of collation is awaited.

Over 18 million (18,774,159) registered voters were expected to have cast their ballots across the 276 constituencies.