Ghana goes to polls to elect the next president

Ghanaians headed to the polls on Monday to cast their votes in a hotly contested race for the next president.

Incumbent Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party is running for a second four-year term, and faces John Mahama, the former president, who is vying for office as a candidate with the National Democratic Congress.

Akufo-Addo, 76, succeeded Mahama, 62, after winning the 2016 elections, where he garnered 53.8 percent of the votes while Mahama received 44.4 percent.

Unlike the 2016 elections, when the presidential seat was contested by eight candidates, this year 12 candidates are fighting for the top seat.

On Friday, Akufo-Addo, and Mahama signed a pact committing to peaceful polls and expressed readiness to accept the election outcome.

During the campaign, the two leaders promised to work on government reforms, develop infrastructure, create more jobs and curb corruption.

On Sunday, the Electoral Commission of Ghana urged citizens to abide by the law and conduct themselves in a manner that ensures peace reigns during and after the general election.

"Be an agent of peace while exercising your civic responsibility," the commission said on its Twitter account.

The electoral commission put in place thorough coronavirus protocols to ensure voter safety during the electoral process. More than 17 million Ghanaians registered as voters in the election

In his address to the nation on Sunday, Akufo-Addo urged citizens to adhere strictly to the coronavirus protocols put in place at all 33,367 polling stations.

He urged citizens to hold peaceful elections and ensure peaceful transfer of power as has been the case in the five previous presidential elections in the country's electoral history.

"The electoral commission has already assured the country of its readiness to deliver another successful process, and it has, to that end, compiled the most credible voters' register in our history," Akufo-Addo said.