The National Democratic Congress (NDC), Ghana’s largest opposition party, held primaries on Saturday to select its presidential candidate for next year’s election, with former leader John Mahama expected to win after his main competitor dropped out.
Political parties are preparing to select presidential candidates as Ghana negotiates a $3 billion bailout with the IMF to help it overcome an economic crisis and as it faces a growing Islamist threat from a conflict in neighboring Burkina Faso.
More than 355,000 NDC party delegates are expected to vote at 401 polling stations across the country. Polls will be open from 0700 GMT until 1600 GMT, with preliminary results due later Saturday.
Despite setbacks by incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo in the 2016 and 2020 elections, former Ghanaian leader Mahama is eyeing a comeback and has sparred with former central bank governor Kwabena Duffuor and former Kumasi mayor Kojo Bonsu.
However, Duffuor withdrew from the race late Friday, claiming that the party was not prepared to hold a “free and fair election.”
Based on his expertise and influence in the opposition party, Mahama had already been picked by most political observers to win the primary to become the NDC’s flagbearer.
“He has been tried and tested and comes with a lot of experience,” Kwame Asah-Asante, a political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, told AFP.
“Mahama is the most marketable candidate in the party now. I don’t see the delegates voting against him. The party stands a better chance of returning to power with Mahama than any other candidate.”
