Dec 06 2024 4 mins
Close to 19 million voters in Ghana are TODAY heading to the polls to elect a new president. The current vice-president, Mahamudu Bawumia, and a former head of state, John Mahama, are the two leading candidates in contention to win the poll. Economic issues have topped people's concerns in the build-up to the election, especially the rising cost of living. At the end of 2022, the annual inflation rate hit 54% pushing many into poverty. The west African country is also grappling with illegal gold mining, has high youth unemployment and is experiencing an exodus of Ghanaians looking for better opportunities elsewhere. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Anthoni Van Nieuwkerk, Professor of International Relations at the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs