How does the system work?

Both presidential and parliamentary candidates are elected through universal suffrage for four-year terms.

To win, a presidential candidate must receive more than 50% of the votes.

There are 12 million registered voters and 22,000 polling stations across the country, which will open at 0700GMT.

The constitution requires that voters are Ghanaian citizens who are at least 18 years old. Despite the huge numbers of Ghanaians abroad, Ghana's electoral laws do not allow citizens in the diaspora to vote.

Who are the main presidential candidates, parties?

Eight candidates have been cleared to run for president but only four are considered to have a realistic chance of success.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo (National Patriotic Party)

Mr Akufo-Addo, 68, helped found the governing National Patriotic Party (NPP) in 1992.

He is a supporter of free market economics and has said he wants to see Ghana develop into a "modern, responsible, educated nation where people will be able to live in peace and security".

Mr Akufo-Addo has served as the country's attorney-general, justice minister and foreign affairs minister. In the last election the NPP party won 129 of the 230 parliamentary seats, followed by the NDC with 93 seats.

John Evans Atta Mills (National Democratic Congress)

Mr Atta Mills, 68, is running for presidency for the third time, having lost twice against John Kufour, in 2000 and in 2004.

He served as the country's vice-president between 1997-2000 and is campaigning on a platform of good governance.

Edward Mahama (People's National Convention)

Edward Mahama, 67, is the candidate of the People's National Convention (PNC), a party popular in the north. He is a retired doctor and unsuccessfully stood for the presidency in 1996 and 2000.

Paa Kwesi Ndoum (Convention People's Party)

Mr Ndoum, 55, served as minister of state in various portfolios in the Kufuor government between 2001 and 2007. He has pledged to review the country's constitution within the first 100 days.

The Convention People's Party is a socialist political party formed in 1949 by founding President Kwame Nkrumah.

Avec BBC