Ghana Elections: Voting starts around the country

Ghanaians all over the country are voting today Friday December 7, 2012 in presidential and parliamentary elections.

Voting was scheduled to start at 7:00am, but in most instances, voting didn’t start at 7:00am, as electoral officials and voting materials delayed in arriving at the polling centres.

At some polling centres the verification machines aren’t working, and in some cases, the officials were given the wrong machines. At the Ghana Muslim Mission School Polling Centre of the  Ablekuma South Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, the code on the machine does not match with the code of the centre.  Officials have told journalists that they have reported the issue to the Electoral Commission and a replacement would be brought.

Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, the EC Chairman has said that ‘no verification, no voting’. Voters will not be allowed to vote if they are unable to verify their names on the register.

Generally, though, apart from delays, voting has started and it is peaceful.

This year’s election is the sixth election since Ghana ushered in constitutional democracy with the 1992 Constitution.

There are eight presidential candidates contesting, with one independent candidate.

Incumbent President,  John Dramani Mahama is standing on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Nana Addo Danquah Akuso-Addo for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Papa Kwesi Nduom for the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP), Dr. Abu Sakara for the Convention Peoples Party (CPP), Hassan Ayariga for the Peoples National Convention (PNC),  Akwasi Addai Odike for the United Front Party’s (UFP), Henry Lartey for the Great Consolidated Popular Party’s (GCPP) and Independent Candidate, Jacob Osei Yeboah.

More than 230 parliamentarians would be voted into office.

The process is expected to end by 5:00pm and according to the EC, the final results should be known within 72 hours after voting.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi