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| Ghana campaign ends in flourish | |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| Final campaigning has ended in Ghana, ahead of Sunday's presidential and parliamentary polls. | |
| Massive rallies were held throughout the day for the main contenders - Nana Akufo-Addo of the ruling NPP party and John Atta Mills of the opposition NDC. | |
| Whoever wins will be in power when money starts coming in from the oil discovered off Ghana's coast. | Whoever wins will be in power when money starts coming in from the oil discovered off Ghana's coast. |
| The race is seen as being close and many Ghanaians expect it to go to a second round run-off on 28 December. | The race is seen as being close and many Ghanaians expect it to go to a second round run-off on 28 December. |
| To win, a candidate must receive more than 50% of the votes. | To win, a candidate must receive more than 50% of the votes. |
| President John Kufuor is to step down in January after serving two terms in office, the maximum he is allowed by the constitution. | President John Kufuor is to step down in January after serving two terms in office, the maximum he is allowed by the constitution. |
| Giant billboards | Giant billboards |
| The BBC's Will Ross in Accra says traffic in some part of the capital ground to a halt amongst flag-waving supporters of ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) leader Mr Akufo-Addo. | |
| Gigantic billboards are on display throughout the city trumpeting the achievements and promises of the NPP and Mr Akufo-Addo. | |
| He told supporters: "Kufuor has laid the foundations. Now I am going to build the structure". | |
| Mr Akufo-Addo's supporters say he is "the best man for Ghama" | |
| Some declare that the British-trained lawyer is "The Best Man for Ghana" and he "believes in Ghana". | |
| Posters for his rival, John Atta Mills, say he is a president "you can trust" and "a better man for Ghana". | Posters for his rival, John Atta Mills, say he is a president "you can trust" and "a better man for Ghana". |
| Thousands of Mr Atta Mills' supporters came out to support him in the coastal town of Tema, where he told them Mr Kufuor had a "responsibility to ensure that he hands over a peaceful country" to his National Democratic Congress (NDC). | |
| The party was founded by Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings, who took power in a coup and was president for nearly 20 years. | |
| Mr Atta Mills, a former vice-president, has twice before stood for election and lost both times. | Mr Atta Mills, a former vice-president, has twice before stood for election and lost both times. |
| Paa Kwesi Nduom is standing for the Convention People's Party (CPP), the party of Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first president, seen as the founding father of African independence. | Paa Kwesi Nduom is standing for the Convention People's Party (CPP), the party of Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first president, seen as the founding father of African independence. |
| Despite the mud slinging of the campaign, there was a carnival atmosphere and friendly exchanges among rival supporters, says our correspondent. | |
| Success story? | Success story? |
| Correspondents say that since the early 1990s, democratic and economic reforms have underlined Ghana's status as a success story in the region, as neighbouring Ivory Coast, once perceived as an "African miracle" descended into war. | Correspondents say that since the early 1990s, democratic and economic reforms have underlined Ghana's status as a success story in the region, as neighbouring Ivory Coast, once perceived as an "African miracle" descended into war. |
| The world's second-biggest cocoa producer and Africa's biggest gold exporter after South Africa, Ghana is now set to profit from the discovery of oil off its shores. | |
| But oil wealth has not benefited many of Africa's poor and many in Ghana fear the discovery will not transform its economy, but exacerbate corruption. | But oil wealth has not benefited many of Africa's poor and many in Ghana fear the discovery will not transform its economy, but exacerbate corruption. |
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| Comedian Kwaku Sintim Misa's take on the election | |
| Plenty of new buildings are going up in Accra, including banks and hotels. | Plenty of new buildings are going up in Accra, including banks and hotels. |
| Its stock exchange was one of the top-performing markets this year and economic growth is forecast at 6.5% for 2008. | Its stock exchange was one of the top-performing markets this year and economic growth is forecast at 6.5% for 2008. |
| But for many, the fruits of this growth remain elusive. | But for many, the fruits of this growth remain elusive. |
| In Accra, hawkers ply their trade on the city's busy roads, with many of its dusty streets are lined with open sewers. | In Accra, hawkers ply their trade on the city's busy roads, with many of its dusty streets are lined with open sewers. |
| Much of the development has been concentrated in the south, with the country's north far poorer. | Much of the development has been concentrated in the south, with the country's north far poorer. |
| The uneven spread of wealth is one of the reasons why many analysts say Sunday's election is too close to call, and a run-off is likely. | The uneven spread of wealth is one of the reasons why many analysts say Sunday's election is too close to call, and a run-off is likely. |