Ghanaians Elect New President in Tight Vote between 2 Veteran Rivals

On Monday, Ghanaian voters nationwide headed for the polls in the country's tight presidential elections to vote for either incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo or his longtime rival John Mahama for a third time.

The elections commission said that the poles were closed at 5 pm today, noting that there were no reports of disruptions.

It added that it is set to announce the final results of elections within 72 hours.

Up to 17 million Ghanaians were registered to cast ballots at 38,000 polling stations across the country. Along with presidential candidates, voters were also charged with selecting 275 lawmakers out of 914 candidates for parliament.

Although 10 other candidates are seeking the presidency, the contest has focused on the two political heavyweights, Akufo-Addo, 76, and Mahama, 62, who have faced off twice before for Ghana's highest office. Akufo-Addo won in 2016, replacing Mahama who won office in 2012.

"The entire world is looking up to us to maintain our status as a beacon of democracy, peace, and stability," Akufo-Addo said Sunday.

The two candidates signed a symbolic pact Friday, promising to resolve any electoral disputes in court, following fears of post-election tension in the close contest. More than 60,000 security personnel were dispatched to maintain order at polling stations.

Disputed elections this year in nearby Guinea and  Ivory Coast resulted in deadly violence after leaders held onto power for third terms by changing constitutional rules, a move bitterly opposed by opposition groups in both countries.

"We don't go to places where democracy is fake, where it's a theater," EU election observer Javier Nart told AFP Monday at a polling station in Accra.