Ghana’s Electoral Commission has approved 13 candidates for the country’s presidential election scheduled for 7 December.

The commission said in a statement on Friday that it had approved the final list, which includes 9 party candidates and 4 independents, while excluding 11 of the 24 people who applied to succeed current President Nana Akufo-Addo, who will step down in January after eight years in office.

Among the most prominent contenders are Mahamadou Bawumia, the country’s current vice-president and candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party, and John Mahama, the opposition leader and candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).