Polls have opened in a general election in Ghana – a litmus test for democracy in a region shaken by extremist violence and coups. Some 18.7 million people are registered to vote in presidential and legislative elections but the two main candidates offer little hope for change for the nation.

ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — Polls opened in a general election in Ghana Saturday, poised to be a litmus test for democracy in a region shaken by extremist violence and coups. Some 18.7 million people are registered to vote in presidential and legislative elections but the two main candidates offer little hope for change for the nation.

Voting closed Saturday evening in most polling centers throughout Ghana, bringing to an end the presidential and legislative elections poised to be a litmus test for democracy in a region shaken by extremist violence and coups.

Ghana voted in a presidential and parliamentary election on Saturday amid hopes for an economic revival after the worst financial crisis in a generation, which led to a major debt default in the West African nation.

Eighteen million people in Ghana will choose their next president and 275 parliamentarians on Saturday amid the country's worst economic crisis in decades. The race pits Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) against former president John Dramani Mahama of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC),

Ghanaians headed to the polls Saturday in presidential and legislative elections poised to be a litmus test for democracy in a region shaken by extremist violence and coups.