Discontent Runs High As Ghana Readies To Vote On Saturday

Public frustration over Ghanas economic travails, including high prices and a dearth of jobs, has dominated the run-up to Saturdays general election , which will likely test the nations longstanding democratic credentials.

Support for outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo and his ruling New Patriotic Party NPP party has sunk in his second term amid the West African nations worst economic crisis in a generation, along with cost-of-living protests and turmoil in its vital cocoa and gold industries.

Indeed, the clamour for change has tipped the presidential and legislative race firmly in favour of opposition leader John Dramani Mahama and his National Democratic Congress party, polls show, though voter patience with the political process is running low.

The country is ruined. I will vote but I dont think it will change anything, said 18-year-old high school graduate Emmanuel Kwaku Jr, who will be casting his ballot for the first time.

An October survey by pan-African research group Afrobarometer found 82 of Ghanaians felt the country was headed in the wrong direction and less than half expected change for the better in the next year.