The wife of Ghana's former leader, Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings, will stand for the presidency herself today in an election that has seen her dubbed the African Hillary Clinton.

Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, 67, whose husband was a poster boy for populist African leaders, is the first woman ever to run for Ghana's top office.

Like Ms Clinton, Mrs Agyeman-Rawlings is a passionate advocate of women's rights - and has also had to contend with the fact that her charismatic, good-looking spouse has many female admirers.

Today, though, it will be the former First Lady herself who takes centre stage, as Ghana's 15 million registered voters go to the polls. She is one of six challengers to President John Mahama, who is seeking a second term in office amid rising discontent with the performance of the economy.