Ghana election: John Mahama VS Nana Akufo-Addo

Long queues were reported  as voters in Ghana   are selecting their next president and a 275-seat parliament in elections which is seen as  a model for democracy in Africa.

Some 14 million people are expected to turn out for Friday's poll. President John Dramani Mahama, in office only since July when he as vice president succeeded President John Atta Mills when he died in office, is facing seven contenders.

His main opponent is Nana Akufo-Addo, a former foreign minister, who lost the 2008 election to Mills by less than 1 percent.

Ghana, a nation of 25 million, has previously held five transparent elections in a row. Nearby Mali, which was also considered a model democracy, was plunged into chaos this March following a military coup.

As polls opened, local press reported that   there were queues in all regions of the country.


The 2008 election was decided by just 30,000 votes in the run-off.
After gaining the most votes in the first round, Mr Akufo-Addo, from the then governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), was praised for peacefully accepting his defeat.

Ghana has held two peaceful transfers of power since military rule ended in 1992.
'Ready to go'