The Republic of Ghana is voting today to choose a new leader and a parliament to steer the affairs of the country for the next 4 years. / Ghana Elections – Africa News

Accra / NationalTurk – This will be the 6^th elections the West African nation has held under the 4th Republican Constitution of the country which was promulgated in 1992.

An election in Ghana is considered one of the best on the continent of Africa as the country is regarded as the beacon of democracy with well establish and vibrant democratic institutions.

The Electoral Commission of Ghana disclosed that it has registered more than 14 million voters across the length and breath of the country and it is expecting that voters will turn up at the various pooling station to cast their ballot.

The chairman of the Electoral Commission Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan told reporters that the commission will be able to declare the results in 48 hours after voting due to the new voters’ biometric equipment the commission is using in the voting process.

“We normally give ourselves 72 hours to deal completely with what has to be done but in 48 hours, we should know who is winning, from the exercise we did on Tuesday on the early voting, we can say we have robust machines for the job” Mr. Afari Gyan told reporters.

ECOWAS Observer Mission happy with preparations

The Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS Observer Mission in Ghana to monitor the process led by former Nigerian President Olesungu Obasanjo praised the preparations towards the polls yesterday.

“The ECOWAS Observer Mission is highly impressed with the structures put in place towards this exercise, we hope that this translates into result for all of us on the sub region to have peace’’, Mr. Obasanjo said.

Ghana elections statistics

The Presidential Candidates are President Mahama of the National Democratic Congress NDC (Incumbent president), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the New Patriotic Party NPP (Main opposition leader), Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom of the Progressive Peoples Party PPP, Dr Abu Sakara of the Convention Peoples Party CPP, Mr. Hassan Ayariga of the People’s National Convention PNC, and Dr Henry Lartey of the Great Consolidated Popular Party GCPP, Mr. Akwasi Addae of the United Front Party UFP and Jacob Osei Yeboah, an independent candidate.

Some 111 parliamentary candidates are contesting for 26 seats in Western Region; 106 contesting for 23 seats in Central Region; 204 for 34 seats in Greater Accra Region; 125 for 26 seats in Volta Region and 152 for 33 seats in Eastern Region.

209 parliamentary candidates are contesting for 47 seats in Ashanti Region; 128 for 29 seats in Brong- Ahafo Region; 154 for 31 seats in the Northern Region; 63 for 15 seats in Upper East and 59 for 11 seats in Upper West Region.

The statistics indicates that only the National Democratic Congress NDC and the New Patriotic Party NPP are contesting for seats in all the 275 constituencies.

The Progressive Peoples Party PPP is contesting for 211 seats, the National Democratic Party NDP is in for 155 seats, the Convention Peoples Party CPP is contesting 145 seats and Peoples National Convention will be vying for 94 seats.

Others are Democratic People’s Party 16; United Freedom Party seven; Independent Peoples Party five; GCPP two; United Renascence Party four; New Vision Party four; Ghana Freedom Party three; and Yes Peoples Party one.

Hundred and twenty 120 individuals are contesting as Independent Parliamentary candidates.

Eight are contesting in Western Region, six in Central Region, 21 in Greater Accra Region, 16 Volta Region, 17 in Eastern Region, 18 Ashanti Region, 10 in Brong-Ahafo Region, 18 in Northern Region, two in Upper East Region and four in Upper West Region.

Candidates pledge to ensure peace prevails during the elections 

All the candidates pledged their support to ensure that the process is devoid of violence when they converged at the Ashanti Regional capital Kumasi to signed the ‘’Kumasi Declaration peace pact’’ under the auspices of the Asante Hene Otumfo Osei Tutu at the great hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology 2 weeks ago.

Many political analysts believe this initiative by the Asante Hene is bold step towards building more integrity in the electoral process to ensure that there is a sound environment for the elections.

In attendance of this event too were members of the judiciary, Members of Parliament and various identifiable groups in the country.

Issaka Adams/NationalTurk Africa News

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