Registered voters will cast their ballots across the country today, December 7, 2024, in exercise of their democratic and constitutional rights to elect political leadership of the country.

The process will determine the nation’s next president and some 276 Members of Parliament across all 16 regions of the country.

According to the Electoral Commission of Ghana, 18,774,159 registered voters are expected to participate in the process across 40, 976 polling stations. Polling stations will officially open from 7am till 5pm.

With respect to the presidential election, there are 12 presidential candidates vying for the top job of president. They include frontrunners in the persons of former president John Dramani Mahama and the sitting Vice President, Mahamudu Bawumia.

Ahead of today, special voting which allows security personnel, journalists, and other essential workers to cast their ballots ahead of the general public, took place on December 2 (in 14 regions), with two remaining regions (Eastern and Western) taking their turn on December 5, 2024. 

When polls close, ballots will be sorted, counted and declared at the polling stations. Results at the polling station level will be sent to the collation centers where winners of parliamentary elections will be declared. 

In the case of the presidential election, after the constituency collation, there shall be regional and national collation of results before a winner is declared. 

This is because the whole country is considered a single constituency in the election of a president. The Electoral Commission (EC) chairperson being the returning officer for the presidential race is the person clothed with powers to declare winner of the race. 

Below are some roles of a voter

  • Vote only once in a particular election
  • Keep your voter’s ID card safe
  • Keep your secret
  • Be law-abiding at the polling station
  • Give other voters the chance to vote
  • Encourage other voters to participate in elections
  • Leave the polling station after casting your vote
  • Avoid impersonation
  • Do not jump the queue if any
  • Do not wear campaign materials
  • Do not engage in political discussions at polling stations.

By: Nusrat Essah

GD/AS