Polls Close in Ghana’s 2024 General Elections

Photo Credit: Penplusbytes

Voting has officially ended in Ghana's highly anticipated 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections. Millions of Ghanaians queued at polling stations across the country to cast their votes for the presidency and parliamentary representatives.

Reports from the Electoral Commission (EC) indicate that the process was largely peaceful. The elections have been described by many as a critical moment for Ghana’s democracy, with strong competition between the two major political parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), alongside smaller parties vying for representation.

Most polling stations across the country opened at 7:00 am, with some reportedly experiencing delays. Despite the late start to polls in some polling stations, millions of Ghanaians were eager to exercise their civic duty.

The EC confirmed that a few polling stations in the Northern Region experienced delays due to malfunctioning biometric verification devices, but the issues were addressed.

Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia cast his ballot early in Walewale. Speaking to the media, Dr. Bawumia urged citizens to maintain peace throughout the voting process.

"I'm encouraging all Ghanaians to get up and get to the polling station, queue peacefully, and exercise their right to vote. Let this be a very peaceful election," he said. Dr. Bawumia expressed satisfaction with the smooth proceedings, stating, "The process has been smooth, the lines I can see are very orderly, and we are expecting a very peaceful election."

He voiced optimism about the outcome, remarking, "I am very hopeful of winning this election. I believe that when all the ballots are counted, the NPP – myself and our parliamentary candidates will emerge victorious."

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama, also shared his confidence after casting his vote. "I am confident that Ghanaians will give me the opportunity to serve again. I trust in the democratic process and believe in the choice of the people," he told reporters.

Mr. Mahama called for a strong turnout and emphasized the importance of maintaining Ghana's reputation for free, fair, and transparent elections. "This election must reflect our democratic values," he stressed.

General Atmosphere 

Many voters praised the organization at polling stations, citing shorter wait times and improved verification systems. “I’m impressed by how smoothly everything went today,” said Ama Darko, a voter in Accra. “The polling officials were very professional, and I was in and out in less than 30 minutes.” 

Social media buzzed with photos and videos of voters flaunting inked fingers, symbolizing their participation. Hashtags like #GhanaDecides and #Election2024 trended throughout the day, showcasing national pride in the democratic process. 

Reported Incidents 

Despite the overall calm in most of the constituencies, there were isolated incidents reported in some areas.

As voting comes to an end, the Penplusbytes Disinformation Detection Platform (DDP) has recorded 7,423 election-related issues throughout the day with 2,123 incidents flagged.

There have also been several shooting incidents in some constituencies with one person dead and several injured in Nyankpala.

In the Ashanti Region, minor skirmishes broke out between party supporters, prompting police intervention. No major injuries were reported. 

What’s next? 

As ballot boxes are sealed and transported to collation centers under heavy security, Ghanaians now await the preliminary results. The EC has assured the public of timely and transparent announcements, with official results expected within 48 hours. 

The stakes are high, and citizens are hopeful that the post-election period will be peaceful. “We’ve done our part by voting; now, we pray for a fair outcome,” said Kofi Asomani, a voter in Kumasi. 

As counting begins, Ghanaians and the international community await the results, expected to be announced within 72 hours.

Follow the General Elections on Twitter @ghanaelections