Politically stable Ghana hold elections, hoping for economic development

Ghanaians went to polls on Tuesday for the fourth successive democratic elections since 1992, hoping the government for the next four years can bring about vigorous economic development for the politically stable west African country.

A total of 10.3 million people have registered to vote in 21,000 polling stations across the country, to elect 230 parliamentarians from 950 candidates and the president from competitors.

The voting started at 7 a.m. (0700 GMT) and ended at 5 p.m. (1700 GMT). The counting of votes was conducted immediately after 5 p.m. at the polling stations where the votes were cast.

The elections were well organized at the polling stations Xinhua visited where Ghanaians voted briskly and peacefully.

The turnout of registered voters was very large, a local journalist told Xinhua.

There are no reports on serious election violence during the whole day except minor ethnic tension that appeared in a northern town of Bawku in the morning, but it was calmed down hours later. Electoral officials said it was an isolated case.

Before 7 a.m., voters were lining up on early morning in poling stations across Accra, the capital city. At a polling station in Association International School, people stood or sat patiently waiting for the time to make their choices. They chatted or read newspapers or listened to the radio in a quiet queue.

Stephen Arthur, a security personnel of 25 years old, woke up at 3 a.m. (0300 GMT) and arrived at the polling station one hour later. He said he would vote for the one who can lead Ghana to a successful country.

"I get 700,000 cedis (78 US dollars) per month and I hope next year I have 1 million cedis (111 dollars)," he said.

An electoral official working at the polling station who refused to be named said that the elections for this year are more gentle and transparent than the former ones.

"Ghana has been stable and peaceful for many years, and now it is high time for economic development," he said.

Ghana is hailed by the world for its political and economic stability in turbulent west Africa.

Although the country is well endowed with natural resources. Gold, timber, and cocoa production are major sources of foreign exchanges, poverty remains a big challenge with 40 percent of Ghanaians living below the UN poverty line, or one dollar for one day.

"Are we better-off or are we still hungry is the thing the people consider most before casting their votes," said Chairman of Ghana's Electoral Commission Kwadwo Afari-Gyah during an exclusive interview with Xinhua on Monday. "Unity is already there, and the problem is economic development."

The chairman said that one feature of the 2004 elections is that there is not so much tension as before. "People have come to accept the democracy is that people vote into the ballot box and decide who is the ruler. You can do your best to campaign and other things, but you leave the decision to the people," he said.

The economy growth rate for the past year is 5.2 percent, while a higher percentage is expected this year.

"No matter who is in power, Ghana will still make progress," said the chief electoral official, considering the stability already gained and macroeconomic indicators.

The competition for presidency in Ghana is widely expected to be between two candidates, the incumbent and his longtime rival, or President John Agyekum Kufuor from the ruling New Patriotic Party and John Evans Atta Mills from the National Democratic Convention (NDC).

Both Kufuor and Mills vowed to accept the result of a free and fair election, saying they will ensure that peace continue to reign in the west African country. They also focused on economic development in the run-up to the elections to woo votes.

Both Kufuor and Mills expressed optimism at winning the elections on Tuesday.

After casting his vote, Kufuor said generally the massive turnout of the electorate indicated that the government was on the right path toward socio-economic development and "surely they are giving me the victory today."

Meanwhile, Mills said at the polling station where he voted "the question of what I will do in the event I lost does not arise at all because I can tell from my tour of the country that I and the NDC have such phenomenal support that there is no way I would lose."

Kufuor came to the power in the elections in 2000, defeating in a runoff with Mills, who is the successor of Jerry Rawlings that had ruled the country for 19 years after a coup in 1981 and stepped down according to constitution.

Politicians have been urged to accept the results, whether they were chosen by the voters or not, for the good of the country.

"We are fully aware of the conflicts in our neighboring countries and their effect on the people so we must endeavor to accept the results in good faith no matter how it goes," Ghanaian Vice President Aliu Mahama said after he cast his vote.

Since its independence from British colonizers in 1957, Ghana had gone through a long series of coups. A new constitution, restoring multiparty politics, was approved in 1992. And general elections had been successfully held in that year and then in 1996 and 2000. Political and economic stability has been restored.

After struggling for independence from former colonizers several decades ago, most African countries are now politically stable, however, with the biggest challenge of poverty. Africa remained the least developed region in the world, making citizens in many countries choose their leaders on the base of economic development.

Several countries on the world's poorest continent held general elections this year, among them are Malawi, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia and now Ghana.

Except the Somali elections that were held in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, to have a new administration for the country suffering from a longtime civil war, other countries chose their ruler, whether from the ruling party or the opposition, in free and fair elections as a whole for economic development, or "more money in pocket."

Source: Xinhua