Ghana’s voting stretches to second day

Voting in Ghana’s presidential and parliamentary polls on Friday was extended to the following day due to delays linked to problems with a new biometric identification system, an electoral official said.

“Voting will continue tomorrow so that these people will have the opportunity to cast their ballots,” electoral commission spokesman Christian Owusu-Parry said on local radio.

Asked who he was referring to, he said those affected by biometric machine breakdowns.

Earlier reports said Ghanaians endured long waits and delays in some areas to vote in a tight presidential election.

President John Dramani Mahama was vying for a first elected term against main opposition candidate Nana Akufo-Addo in a nation reaping the benefits of a booming economy fuelled in part by a new and expanding oil industry.

Voting ought to have closed by 5.pm. But the long lines that formed in many areas today the difficulties encountered in using the biometric data machine, stretched the voting beyond the hours envisaged.

While many polling stations opened on time, a number started late due to the delayed delivery of materials. Voter biometric fingerprinting was also being used for the first time.

“This year’s elections will go down in history as the best ever to be held in Ghana,” he said. “It’s a great day for Ghana and it will go a long way to consolidate Ghana’s democratic credentials.”

Akufo-Addo voted in the country’s eastern region and expressed hope that the elections would remain peaceful.

There were rowdy crowds in some areas, but local observers said they had not received reports of any major incidents.