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| Ghana election: John Mahama faces Nana Akufo-Addo | Ghana election: John Mahama faces Nana Akufo-Addo |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Long queues of people are waiting to vote in parliamentary and presidential elections in Ghana, which is seen as a model for democracy in Africa. | Long queues of people are waiting to vote in parliamentary and presidential elections in Ghana, which is seen as a model for democracy in Africa. |
| There have been some complaints of delays but voting has been generally peaceful. | |
| A tight race is expected between President John Mahama and Nana Akufo-Addo in the new oil producer - one of the world's fastest-growing economies. | A tight race is expected between President John Mahama and Nana Akufo-Addo in the new oil producer - one of the world's fastest-growing economies. |
| Mr Mahama took over as president after John Atta Mills died in July. | Mr Mahama took over as president after John Atta Mills died in July. |
| The 2008 election was decided by just 30,000 votes in the run-off. | The 2008 election was decided by just 30,000 votes in the run-off. |
| Mr Akufo-Addo, from the then governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), gained most votes in the first round but lost in the run-off. | Mr Akufo-Addo, from the then governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), gained most votes in the first round but lost in the run-off. |
| He was praised for peacefully accepting his defeat, in the second peaceful transfer of power since military rule ended in 1992. | He was praised for peacefully accepting his defeat, in the second peaceful transfer of power since military rule ended in 1992. |
| Mr Mahama's National Democratic Congress is also defending a narrow parliamentary majority. | Mr Mahama's National Democratic Congress is also defending a narrow parliamentary majority. |
| Prayers for peace | Prayers for peace |
| The BBC's David Amanor in Accra says concerns have been raised that some polling stations failed to process a single vote five hours after officially opening. | |
| Others have experienced very slow-moving queues and this has agitated voters, some of whom have been standing or sitting in line since before dawn, he says. | |
| The delays are being blamed on late arrival of officials, the absence of polling materials in some constituencies, and some technical problems with a new biometric registration system. | |
| Poll were due to close at 1700 GMT but election officials say anyone standing in line at that time will be allowed to cast their ballots. | |
| The streets of the capital are virtually empty, with only a few motorists. | The streets of the capital are virtually empty, with only a few motorists. |
| There are long queues of voters at most polling centres. Many people arrived a 0300 - five hours before voting began. | There are long queues of voters at most polling centres. Many people arrived a 0300 - five hours before voting began. |
| Enthusiasm and passion can be seen in the eyes of voters as they chat, giggle and watch the voting process with vigilance - some shout at people who attempt to by-pass the queue to vote. | Enthusiasm and passion can be seen in the eyes of voters as they chat, giggle and watch the voting process with vigilance - some shout at people who attempt to by-pass the queue to vote. |
| Some have secured their place in the line using objects such as chickens, chairs and plastic containers to represent their position. | Some have secured their place in the line using objects such as chickens, chairs and plastic containers to represent their position. |
| There have been a few hitches with voting in some polling centres starting up to three hours late prompting anxiety among the expectant voters. | There have been a few hitches with voting in some polling centres starting up to three hours late prompting anxiety among the expectant voters. |
| The biometric system seems to be working smoothly so far, although one machine did freeze. | The biometric system seems to be working smoothly so far, although one machine did freeze. |
| Prayers for peace were held before voting began in one polling station in Accra, Reuters news agency reports. | Prayers for peace were held before voting began in one polling station in Accra, Reuters news agency reports. |
| "We are proud of Ghana and hope that whoever wins will win without complications," said Haruni Safiyu, a 26-year-old labourer just before casting his ballot. | "We are proud of Ghana and hope that whoever wins will win without complications," said Haruni Safiyu, a 26-year-old labourer just before casting his ballot. |
| A special website, Ghana Votes, has been set up to report any problems such as fraud or violence. | A special website, Ghana Votes, has been set up to report any problems such as fraud or violence. |
| Whoever wins will oversee the continued oil-fuelled spending boom in the coming years. | Whoever wins will oversee the continued oil-fuelled spending boom in the coming years. |
| Both candidates have promised to use the money to improve education provision. | Both candidates have promised to use the money to improve education provision. |
| Mr Mahama is expected to do well in his home area in the north, while Mr Akufo-Addo draws much of his support from urban areas and among members of his Ashanti community. | Mr Mahama is expected to do well in his home area in the north, while Mr Akufo-Addo draws much of his support from urban areas and among members of his Ashanti community. |
| The NPP candidate is the son of a former president but denies that his privileged background means he does not care about the poor in a country where the average income remains less than $4 (£3) a day. | The NPP candidate is the son of a former president but denies that his privileged background means he does not care about the poor in a country where the average income remains less than $4 (£3) a day. |
| On Thursday, electoral commission head Kwadwo Afari-Gyan told the BBC that the biometric fingerprinting system had been extensively tested over two months and again earlier this week, when security personnel voted, but added that if there were any problems, voting would be extended until Saturday. | On Thursday, electoral commission head Kwadwo Afari-Gyan told the BBC that the biometric fingerprinting system had been extensively tested over two months and again earlier this week, when security personnel voted, but added that if there were any problems, voting would be extended until Saturday. |
| "If everything is normal and goes smoothly, we give ourselves 72 hours [to announce the result]," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme. | "If everything is normal and goes smoothly, we give ourselves 72 hours [to announce the result]," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme. |
| Some 14 million people have registered to vote in 26,000 polling stations nationwide. | Some 14 million people have registered to vote in 26,000 polling stations nationwide. |
| Both Mr Mahama and Mr Akufo-Addo have promised to accept the result, but 5,000 soldiers have been put on standby just in case. | Both Mr Mahama and Mr Akufo-Addo have promised to accept the result, but 5,000 soldiers have been put on standby just in case. |
| A run-off will be held on 28 December if no candidate wins more than 50% of Friday's vote. | A run-off will be held on 28 December if no candidate wins more than 50% of Friday's vote. |
| There are six other presidential contenders and hundreds of candidates for the 275 parliamentary seats. | There are six other presidential contenders and hundreds of candidates for the 275 parliamentary seats. |
| Are you in Ghana? Have you voted in the election or are you queuing to cast your vote? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you in Ghana? Have you voted in the election or are you queuing to cast your vote? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |
| Voting at south campus, university of education, Winneda has been relatively calm and peaceful. I voted at 0840 after joining a long-winding queue of voters at 0620. I am happy to vote and I expect a huge voter turnout due to increasing number of people at the various polling stations. May Ghana be the ultimate winner. I love my nation. | Voting at south campus, university of education, Winneda has been relatively calm and peaceful. I voted at 0840 after joining a long-winding queue of voters at 0620. I am happy to vote and I expect a huge voter turnout due to increasing number of people at the various polling stations. May Ghana be the ultimate winner. I love my nation. |
| John Darkwah, Winneda | John Darkwah, Winneda |
| It took me less than five minutes to go through the entire voting exercise for the presidential and parliamentary elections. After so much tension prior to the election as a result of all the vitriolic rhetoric from the political parties I found the whole experience uneventful-in fact boring. I feel cheated. | It took me less than five minutes to go through the entire voting exercise for the presidential and parliamentary elections. After so much tension prior to the election as a result of all the vitriolic rhetoric from the political parties I found the whole experience uneventful-in fact boring. I feel cheated. |
| Philip Owusu, Accra | Philip Owusu, Accra |
| What I know and firmly believe is that once again, Ghana, the pacesetters of African emancipation will make Africa proud and set the right example as was set in 1992,'96, 2000,'04,08 and in July when Mills died. There's been no incidences except for verification delays and wild rumours going about, unfortunately fuelled by the numerous FM stations even way before the election took off today. The general opinion here is a first round clear winner and the swift getting on with our lives. Those who have already cast their votes have either gone home or peacefully loitering amount in a vigilant attempt at ensuring that the shouldn't be any incidence of "macho" men coming to snatch ballot boxes. Well we wait to see an incident-free election. God bless my homeland Ghana. | What I know and firmly believe is that once again, Ghana, the pacesetters of African emancipation will make Africa proud and set the right example as was set in 1992,'96, 2000,'04,08 and in July when Mills died. There's been no incidences except for verification delays and wild rumours going about, unfortunately fuelled by the numerous FM stations even way before the election took off today. The general opinion here is a first round clear winner and the swift getting on with our lives. Those who have already cast their votes have either gone home or peacefully loitering amount in a vigilant attempt at ensuring that the shouldn't be any incidence of "macho" men coming to snatch ballot boxes. Well we wait to see an incident-free election. God bless my homeland Ghana. |
| Iddrisu Limann, Bantama, Kumasi | Iddrisu Limann, Bantama, Kumasi |
| I've just cast my vote to move Ghanaians forward. I was proud to queue side by side with fellow Ghanaians who mostly looked restless to cast their votes. There seem to be no undivided voters as the queue moved far faster than I expected. It's my prayer that our votes, not the greed of top, that decides where our future lies. I'll be far more proud of my country should this elections reflect our need to move forward peacefully and as a nation who have their unborn generations at heart. God Bless Ghana! | I've just cast my vote to move Ghanaians forward. I was proud to queue side by side with fellow Ghanaians who mostly looked restless to cast their votes. There seem to be no undivided voters as the queue moved far faster than I expected. It's my prayer that our votes, not the greed of top, that decides where our future lies. I'll be far more proud of my country should this elections reflect our need to move forward peacefully and as a nation who have their unborn generations at heart. God Bless Ghana! |
| Eugene Bempah, Accra | Eugene Bempah, Accra |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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