In a year where violence was the prominent theme in many African elections, the Presidential elections in Ghana shaped up to become a model election for countries in Africa and across the globe. Described by the Financial Times as Africa’s “Dullest Election,” electioneering and voting activities in Ghana were violence-free and widely described as a free, fair and credible process. 

With an average voter turnout of  72.3%, polls opened in Ghana on Monday, 7th December for Ghanaians to elect a president and 275 members of the parliament. Elections were held in 38,622 polling stations across the 16 regions in the country. The incumbent, President Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party contested against 11 other aspirants, including former President John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress. This is the third time Mr Akufo-Addo and Mr Mahama faced off in an election, with Mahama winning in 2012 and Akufo-Addo taking the lead in 2016. Early results suggest Akufo-Addo could be number one in the contest yet again. 

While Ghana’s elections lacked the violent eventfulness of many elections in Africa, it was not completely issue-free. For instance, the shortage of female candidates running for the presidential office was painfully visible. Rainfall in some parts of the country also interrupted the voting process, resulting in a delay in announcement of results. 

While the electoral campaigns of the two major contenders differ in focus and policy direction, the winner of the elections will be tasked with the priority of stabilizing the economy of Ghana which has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Tackling corruption has also remained at the fore of conversations in Ghana’s polity, an issue Mr Akufo-Addo is very passionate about. However, the resignation of the Special Prosecutor prior to the election raised concerns after he cited corruption in government as one of the reasons for his resignation. 

Election results are expected to come in late Wednesday.