Accra (AFP) - Ghanaians voted in tight elections on Saturday, with Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia trying to shake off anger over economic woes under the current government to stave off opposition party ex-president John Mahama.

Ghana’s struggling economy dominated the race, after the West Africa gold and cacao producer went through a debt default, high inflation and negotiations for a $3 billion IMF bailout.

Voters are choosing a successor to Bawumia’s boss, President Nana Akufo-Addo, who steps down after serving the maximum of two four-year terms. They will also elect the country’s new parliament.

Voting was mostly calm, but one person was shot dead and four people arrested at a polling station in Nyankpala in the country’s northern region, police and local media said.

Morning turnout appeared slow in parts of Accra, but steady in other neighbourhoods. Muslim women in colourful headscarves waited on wooden benches to vote in Nima district, while students and shop workers cast their ballots in middle-class Ayawaso.

“We want to vote for change, the economic situation is very hard,” said retired policeman James Nsiah, casting his ballot in the Jamestown area of Accra.

Polling closes at 1700 GMT. Early results are expected on Sunday, with full presidential results scheduled by Tuesday.

With a history of political stability, Ghana’s two main parties, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC), have alternated in power equally since the return to multi-party democracy in 1992.

Touting the slogan “Break the 8” – a reference to going past the usual two terms in power – the NPP hopes Bawumia can lead them to an unprecedented third term. But he struggled to break away from criticism of Akufo-Addo’s economic record.

“I am very hopeful of winning,” Bawumia told reporters when he voted in the north. “I think we have done a lot of work with our message to the people and the message has been well received.”

A UK-educated economist and former central banker, he points to an economy turning a corner and the government’s continued plans for digitalisation to ease business, as well as free education and health programmes.

- Economic frustrations -

Inflation slowed from more than 50 percent to around 23 percent, and other macro-economic indicators are stabilising after the debt restructuring and IMF deal.

But many Ghanaians still say they struggle with the cost of living, scarce jobs and a depreciated cedi currency.

Frustration over the economy has opened the way for a comeback challenge from Mahama, who was president from 2012 to 2017 but has since failed twice in presidential bids.

The NDC flag-bearer says he will “reset” Ghana and introduce a “24-hour economy”, extending industrial hours to create jobs, and also renegotiate parts of the IMF deal.

“Other elections have not been as obvious,” Mahama said voting in his northern hometown. “With this one, everybody can tell the direction because of the abysmal performance of the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government.”

Some analysts gave him an edge because of voter dismay with NPP economics, but the former president faced criticism from those who remember financial woes and massive power cuts during his time in office.

Visual arts student Abdullah Mohammed, 19, said he may have benefited from Akufo-Addo’s free school programme, but high costs weighed on families.

“I just want a good president who will bring changes. I don’t really care if it is Bawumia or Mahama,” he said in Accra’s Nima district.

Shoe saleswoman Esther Adobea said the economic situation hurt, but she was willing to give Bawumia a chance to make things better.

“I can see he can handle the country for us. Our economy is not good, but he can do better,” she said.

Both major candidates are from the north of the country – traditionally an NDC stronghold, but now more fragmented – making the region a key battleground.

While the economy was key, Ghana also faces an increasing risk of spillover in its northern regions from jihadist conflicts in Niger and Burkina Faso, where military juntas rule.

The spread of illegal gold mining also became an election issue. Akufo-Addo promised to stop illegal mining, but it has expanded, poisoning riverways and impacting cacao farmlands – a major source of export income.