As campaigning intensifies ahead of Ghana's elections, President Jerry Rawlings drew thousands to an election rally on Saturday in support of his chosen successor, Vice-President John Atta Mills. President Rawlings, who has ruled Ghana for 20 years, is stepping down after presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for Thursday. The main challenger to the vice-president is lawyer John Agyekum Kufuor, candidate for the New Patriotic Party.

The rally by the ruling Ghanaian National Democratic Party took place in Kumasi - a traditional opposition stronghold and an ancient seat of the Ashanti kingdom north-west of the capital, Accra. The crowd, estimated at up to 7,000, included several hundred people bussed to the rally by the party.

"I encourage all of you to vote for the NDC to ensure that we continue our good work," Mr Rawlings told the crowd. On Friday night the opposition NPP held a gathering in Accra's Darkuman suburb, attended by tens of thousands of supporters - many wearing the party's red, white and blue colours.

Shadow housing minister Kwamena Bartels said a "massive change of attitudes" was swinging the vote in the NPP's favour. "The NDC has no new ideas to solve the problems of Ghana," he said, adding that "we haven't bussed or paid anybody" to attend the rally.

Although the presidential race appears close, the NPP lacks the campaign resources enjoyed by the ruling NDC. Mr Kufuor, who is said to be an unimpressive public speaker, lost to President Rawlings at the last election. But John Atta Mills is himself a relative newcomer to politics, and the ruling party relies heavily on the near-cult status enjoyed by President Rawlings.