Ghana Elections... Opposition Wins!

[Ab-Titchaz]

Race tight in Ghana's vote count ​

Nana Akufo-Addo, flag-bearer of the NPP​

Ghana's two main presidential candidates are running neck-and-neck as votes continue to be counted a day after the country's peaceful elections.

It is a public holiday and people are glued to their radios and television sets as the results trickle in.

A number of ministers have lost their seats in the parliamentary elections.

Poll officials reported a huge voter turnout and monitors hailed the exercise as a shining example of democracy in action for Africa.

President John Kufuor, 70, is stepping down in January after serving the maximum two terms.

The main contest is between Mr Kufuor's governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of former ruler Jerry Rawlings, which was in power until eight years ago.

The leading contenders are ex-Foreign Minister Nana Akufo-Addo and the NDC's John Atta Mills, who is a presidential candidate for the third time. The winner is expected to be named later on Monday.

But the electoral commission has until Wednesday afternoon to release the final official results.

It is too early to tell whether either candidate will be able to secure an outright victory, says the BBC's Will Ross in Accra.

A third contender who was tipped as a potential kingmaker or spoiler has performed poorly increasing the chance of a first round win for one of the frontrunners.

There is little love lost between the two main political parties, our correspondent says.

The governing NPP dominated the outgoing parliament with 128 of the 230 seats.

Parliamentary results so far show the centre-right party has lost at least half a dozen seats to the NDC, including that of President Kufuor's information minister.

Initial results show that a third contender who was tipped as a potential kingmaker or spoiler has performed poorly, increasing the chance of a first-round win for one of the frontrunners.

Papa Kwesi Nduom, candidate for the Convention People's Party, which ushered in Ghana's independence from Britain half a century ago, had hoped to spring a surprise.

The vote appeared free of the intimidation and violence that have marred other recent African polls, according to local and international observers.

Baroness Valerie Amos, a former British minister who is leading a 23-nation Commonwealth observer mission, said Sunday had been "a good day for Africa".

Our correspondent say this election is important not just for Ghana, but also for the continent, where bloodshed and claims of fraud have dogged polls from Kenya to Zimbabwe and Nigeria.

The fact that the hallmark for a successful election is that it is peaceful is seen by some as a worrying sign of just how low the bar has been set when it comes to judging democracy in Africa, he adds.

Ghana was the first African state to gain its independence in 1957, but was plagued by coups until the return to multi-party democracy in 1992.

It is the world's second biggest cocoa grower and Africa's number two gold miner.

BBC NEWS | Africa | Race tight in Ghana's vote count

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Voting started early in Ghana as large numbers turned out for presidential and parliamentary elections.

Polling stations were set up in neighbourhoods, churches and schools across the country.

Election officials say turnout could beat the last elections - when it reached 85%

Voting is reported to have gone peacefully, although there were some early delays in Accra.

But waiting in the scorching sun proved too much for some voters.

All eyes are on Ghana as it hopes to show Africa that elections can be held without violence.
​

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

And the Casualty List Grows...​

Vote counting in a number of polling stations was conducted under torch lights, as unexplained power cuts across several communities hit the national elections. Here, officials count the ballots at the Atimpoku polling station in the Korle Klottey constituency in Accra

​

The 2008 general election has so far panned out as a straight contest between the ruling New Patriotic Party and National Democratic Congress, true to pre-polls predictions.

What is emerging, is a strong indication the opposition NDC could be making gains in parliamentary seats should current trends persist.

At Adenta in the Greater Accra Region, the NPP’s Kwadjo Opare Hammond, incumbent MP, failed to retain the seat as NDC’s Kojo Adu Asare, a businessman, polled 20,230 votes to win the seat.
Opare Hammond had 16,646.

In the Krowor and Ledzokuku constituencies in Accra, the NPP ceded their seats to the NDC.

Deputy Health Minister, Gladys Norley Ashitey failed to keep her Ledzokuku constituency seat after polling 30,622. Nii Nortey Duah, NDC, won the seat with 42,087.

In a close contest for the Korle Klottey seat, the incumbent NDC’s Ishmael Ashitey narrowly edged out the NPP’s Samuel J. Adjei Tawiah, polling 30,633 as against 28,011 by Tawiah.

At Mfantseman West, Information and National Orientation Minister, Stephen Asamoah Boateng lost his seat to the NDC’s Aquinas Quansah, while in the Gomoa West constituency, NPP’s Joe Kingsley Hackman also lost his to the NDC candidate, Francis Kojo Arthur. The results were 12,511 to 15,985 respectively.

Hon. Samuel Owusu-Agyei, NPP MP for Efutu in the Central Region, lost his seat to the NDC’s Mike Allen Hammah. The incumbent polled 12,010 votes against 15,124 by Hammah.

At Nanton in the Northern Region, Alhaji Abdul-Karim, NPP, toppled NDC’s Alhaji Alhassan Yakubu, polling 6,868 votes as against 6,177 for the incumbent.

NPP former General Secretary, Dan Botwe, won the Okere Constituency of the Eastern Region with 11,974. His closest pursuer, Addo George Opare of the NDC, polled 6,729.

Ghana News :: And the casualty list grows… ::: Breaking News | News in Ghana | elections

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Fahali wawili wakuu...may the best man win!

Prof. John Evans Atta Mills

John Evans Atta Mills was born on July 21st, 1944, at Tarkwa in the Western Region of Ghana and hails from Ekumfi Otuam in the Mfantsiman East Constituency of the Central region.

"My dream is that Ghana in this century will be the nation that leads Africa . An educated, thriving, and prosperous democracy, that we can hold up as an example to the world of what Africa can be, when its people move and work together."

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo​

"I believe Ghana is poised to become one of the greatest nations on earth. What I offer is the kind of shared transformational leadership with the people that can make it happen. The future belongs to people who believe in Ghana. This is an age of re-discovery"

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

pics...

Ghana Election 2008: Campaign Photos | Ghana Online

 

[BAK]

Ruling party's man leads in Ghana
BBC News Online

Nana Akufo-Addo has a slender lead in the poll count so far

The candidate of Ghana's ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, has pulled ahead in the count from Sunday's presidential election.

He holds a slender lead with more than half of precincts counted, but a run-off vote could still be held.

John Atta Mills, of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), is close behind.

Our correspondent says results are being disputed, raising the risk of a peaceful poll turning acrimonious.

The NDC has accused the governing party of plotting to rig the election, with the support of the military.

But the NPP denied the charges, saying in a statement reported by AFP news agency: "The NDC is not winning and we are not trying to rig this election."

The elections, which attracted a high turnout, have been given a clean bill of health by international observers who said the poll would set a democratic example to the rest of Africa.

If neither of the two leading contenders can make it over a 50% share of the vote, a run-off must be held in three weeks' time.

There were eight candidates to succeed President John Kufuor - who steps down in January having served the maximum two terms - but the election has been a two-horse race, says the BBC's Will Ross in Accra.

There was a poor showing for third-place candidate Papa Kwesi Nduom, of the Convention People's Party (CPP), who had been seen as a possible kingmaker or spoiler.

The electoral commission has until Wednesday afternoon to release the final official results.

Neck-and-neck

Ghana is also choosing its new parliament. The governing party had a clear majority before this election but that is no longer the case and the two rival parties are neck-and-neck.

Results so far show the centre-right NPP has lost some key seats to its opposition rival, including that of President Kufuor's information minister.

The former British colony was the first African state to gain its independence in 1957, but was plagued by coups until the return to multi-party democracy in 1992.

The nation of 23 million people is the world's second biggest cocoa grower and Africa's number two gold miner.

 

[BAK]

Ghana election to go to a run-off
BBC News Online

Now the election campaigns must start again ​

Ghana's presidential election must be decided in a second-round vote, the electoral commission has announced.

Governing party candidate Nana Akufo-Addo won 49.13% of the vote, against 47.92% for his rival, John Atta Mills, the commission said.

But neither reached the 50% threshold needed for an outright win and a run-off will be held on 28 December.

Local and international observers have praised Ghana for setting a good example on how to conduct an election.

Electoral commission chairman Kwadwo Afari Gyan told a news conference in the capital, Accra: "There is going to be a re-run and it will be between the two leading candidates."

High stakes

The commission chairman did not immediately announce the results of the parallel parliamentary elections also held on Sunday, saying the commission needed to clarify some issues.

Turnout was 69.52% for Ghana's fifth set of elections since it embraced multi-party democracy in 1992.

The BBC's Will Ross in Accra says after winning praise for its peaceful poll Ghana will now have to do it again, but the stakes are high, he adds, as the country has just discovered oil.

There were a number of candidates to succeed President John Kufuor - who steps down in January having served the maximum two terms - but the election has been a two-horse race.

New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate Mr Akufo-Addo won 4,159,439 votes, while National Democratic Congress (NDC) contender John Atta Mills had 4,056,634 ballots, it was announced.

Trailing a very distant third was businessman Papa Kwesi Nduom, of the Convention People's Party (CPP), with 1.3% of the ballot.

The former British colony was the first African state to gain its independence in 1957.

A nation of 22 million people, it is the world's second biggest cocoa grower and Africa's number two gold miner.

 

[MzalendoHalisi]

Mchuano mkali tofauti 1%??

Mills= 48%

Akufo-Addo= 49%

Hii safi inapendeza!

swala ni je wakirudia.. atakayeshindwa atakubali?

 

[Hofstede]

Mchuano mkali tofauti 1%??

Mills= 48%

Akufo-Addo= 49%

Hii safi inapendeza!

swala ni je wakirudia.. atakayeshindwa atakubali?

Atakubali endapo uchaguzi wa marudio hautakuwa kama ilivyokuwa Zimbabwe, na uchaguzi ukiwa kama ulivyokuwa huu wa first round

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Atakubali endapo uchaguzi wa marudio hautakuwa kama ilivyokuwa Zimbabwe, na uchaguzi ukiwa kama ulivyokuwa huu wa first round

Run off itakua interesting maana hii kura ilishirikisha wagombeaji
wengi wa kiti cha urais. Swali muhimu ni je will the people come
out in large numbers once again kama mwanzo?

Meanwhile Ghana wameonyesha maturity na hizi kura zao na naamini
atakayeshindwa atakubali tu maana la sivyo wangevuruga hii kura
right from the beginning.By now mshindi angekua keshajitangaza!

 

[Richard]

Wasomi wawili wachuana.

Wasomi wawili Profesa John Atta Mills na Nana Akufo-Addo ni watu ambao wameishi nje ya Ghana na ni watu wanoelewa masuala ya kuleta maendeleo kwa nchi ya Ghana ambayo kwa sasa imekuza kwa kiasi kikubwa zao la Kakao na madini yake yanahitajika sana ulimwenguni.

Pia Ghana kufikia mwaka 2010 watakuwa wakizalisha mafuta.

Wasomi hao watachuana vikali katika mpambano wao mwisho siku ya tarehe 28 mwezi huu wa December.

Hebu tuangalie kidogo CV za watu hawa.




Nana Addo is a lawyer and a son of one of Ghana's former presidents, Edward Akuffo.

Marital Status: married to Rebecca (nee Griffiths-Randolph) with five children; eldest of four children of Adeline and Edward Akufo-Addo, former Chief Justice and President of the Second Republic.

Education: Lancing College, Sussex, England and the University of Ghana, Legon (B.Sc. Econs 1967).

Profession: lawyer, called to the English Bar (Middle Temple) in July 1971; called to the Ghanaian Bar in July 1975; associate counsel, Coudert Freres (Brothers), major US law firm, at its Paris office in France (1971-75); junior member of the chambers of U.V. Campbell (1975-79); senior partner and co-founder in 1979 with Dr. Edmund Prempeh of prominent law firm, Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co.

Positions Held: General Secretary of the People's Movement for Freedom and Justice (PMFJ) (1977-78); Vice President, Greater Accra Regional Branch of Ghana Bar Association (1989-91); President, Greater Accra Regional Branch of Ghana Bar Association (1991-96); Member, General Legal Council (1991-96); Member, Legal Committee of Ghana Bar Association (1991-96); Member, General Council of Ghana Bar Association (1991-96); founder and first Chairperson, Ghana Committee on Human and Peoples Rights; Member, National Council and National Executive Committee of New Patriotic Party (NPP) (1992 - ); 1992, 1996 and 2000 NPP parliamentary candidate for Abuakwa constituency; Chairperson, NPP Internal Affairs Committee (1996); Chairperson, NPP Legal & Constitutional Affairs Committee (1996-2000); Secretary, NPP Political Committee (1992-96); Secretary, 1996 NPP Policy Advisory Committee; NPP Member of Parliament for Abuakwa constituency (1997-2001) (2001-2005); NPP Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South constituency (2005-2009); Chairperson, Parliament’s Standing Committee on Subsidiary Legislation (1997-2001); Ranking Minority Member on Parliament's Select Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs (1997-2001); Minority Spokesperson on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs (1997-2001); Spokesperson of the Alliance for Change (AFC), broad based political pressure group (1995-96); Chairperson, DHL (Ghana) Ltd (1984-2001); Chairperson, Kinesic Communications Co. Ltd, publisher of the independent newspapers, "The Statesman" and "The Weekend Statesman" (1991-2001); Attorney General and Minister for Justice (2001-2003); Member, Judicial Council (2001-2003); Member, General Legal Council (2001-2003); Member, Board of Legal Education (2001-2003); Chairperson, legal Service Board (2001-2003); Member, Ghana Investors Advisory Council (2001-2003); Member, Ghana Aids Commission (2001-2003); Minister for Foreign Affairs (April 2003 - 2007) Honourary Fellow, Legon Hall, University of Ghana.

2007: Elected NPP Presidential Candidate

Languages: fluent in Twi, Ga, English, French.


Favourite Past-times: reading (history, biography, novels); music (classical, jazz, highlife); sports (soccer, cricket, squash).



Name: Mills
Other Names: Professor John Evans Atta
Date of Birth: 1944-07-21
Place: Cape Coast



Detailed Biography


Professor John Evans Atta Mills, the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was born on July 21st, 1944 and hails from Cape Coast in the Central region.
Prof. Mills launched a lifelong of learning at Achimota Secondary School, where he completed the Advanced Level Certificate in 1963.

To further his education, he attended the University of Ghana, Legon where he received a bachelor's degree and professional certificate in Law (1967).

While earning the Ph.D. in Oriental and African Studies from the University of London, Dr. Mills was selected as a Fulbright scholar at Stanford Law School (USA).

Prof. Mills' first formal teaching assignment was as a lecturer on the faculty of law at the University of Ghana, Legon. He spent more than twenty years imparting acquired knowledge to students, and rose in position from lecturer to senior lecturer to associate professor. His contribution to the University was remarkable having served on numerous boards, committees, and schemes. Also during those twenty years, Prof. Mills traveled as a visiting lecturer and professor at Temple University (USA) and Leiden University (Holland), and presented research papers at symposiums and conferences throughout the world.


Prof. Mills has more than one dozen publications to his credit. These include:

Taxation of Periodical or Deferred Payments arising from the Sale of Fixed Capital (1974),

Exemption of Dividends from Income taxation: A critical Appraisal (1977),

Report of the Tax Review Commission, Ghana, parts 1,2&3, (1977) and

Ghana's Income Tax laws and the Investor. An inter-faculty lecture published by the University of Ghana.
His expertise goes well beyond the classroom, and is evidenced by the various examiner positions he held with finance related institutions throughout Ghana (i.e. Institute of Chartered Accountants, Institute of Bankers, Ghana Tax Review Commission). As an advocate for recreation, Prof. Mills has supported the community through groups such as the Ghana Hockey Association, National Sports Council of Ghana, Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club. The following are a few of his activities and projects:

Member of the Ghana Stock Exchange Council
Board of Trustees, Mines Trust
Management Committee of Commonwealth Administration of Tax Experts
United Nations Ad Hoc Group of Experts in International Cooperation in Tax Matters 7 United Nations Law and Population Project
Study on Equipment Leasing in Ghana
Casebook preparation on Ghana's Income Tax
Review of Ghana's Double Tax Agreement with the U.K
A track record of financial knowledge and strong professional credentials led to several important appointments. In 1988, Prof. J.E Atta Mills became the acting Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service of Ghana and named Commissioner in September 1996. In 1997, Prof. Mills received another important appointment. On January 7, 1997, he was named the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana.

In the nutshell, Dr. John Evans Atta Mills, Professor Atta Mills as popularly called, continues to contribute to the Republic of Ghana.


He is married to Ernestina Naadu, an educationist.

Uchaguzi wa Ghana ni wa kidemokrasia ya kweli na unafaa kuigwa Afrika nzima kama ambavyo tumeona demokrasia ilivofanza kazi kule Marekani.

 

[Ben Saanane]

Cv zao ni nzuri.pia hoja za hawa jamaa zinashabihiana kwa kitu kimoja,zimelenga kuliinua Taifa la Ghana juu ktk bara la Africa na dunia.hii ni dhamira nzuri inayochochewa na uzalendo wa kweli

 

[BAK]

Page last updated at 13:58 GMT, Sunday, 28 December 2008

Ghanaians vote for new president
BBC News Online

The elections are the third since the country's return to democracy in 1992
People in Ghana have been voting peacefully in the presidential run-off, after the 7 December election failed to produce an outright winner.

Nana Akufo-Addo of the governing party is competing against John Atta Mills of the opposition to succeed President John Kufuor, who has served two terms.

Mr Addo defeated his rival by a slender margin in the first round but not by enough to avoid the run-off.

The stakes are high as Ghana has just found commercial quantities of oil.

The two main political parties - the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of Mr Atta Mills - have both complained about apparent efforts to rig the vote.

Ghana has held successful elections before but suspicions are high and there is a danger that, unless the people believe this process is free and fair, the country's image could be dented, says the BBC's Will Ross in Accra.

Some 12.5 million people are eligible to vote in the election - the third since the country's return to democracy in 1992.

'Intimidation scheme'

In Accra and across the West African state, queues formed outside schools and other public buildings where polling stations were operating, guarded by armed soldiers and police.

After Mr Atta-Mills cast his ballot in the capital, he said he hoped the voting would be smooth and carried out properly.


A big oil discovery has raised the stakes for the race
"We don't want any rigging, we don't want any cheating," he said, adding that he was "confident of winning".

On the eve of Sunday's vote, Mr Atta Mills said he had received disturbing reports of "macho men" being hired "to cause mayhem at polling stations".

Mr Akufo-Addo's party accused the opposition of having embarked on a "disturbing... intimidation scheme".

President Kufuor, who has to stand down having served two consecutive terms, called for a peaceful vote.

"I am appealing to all Ghanaians... we should all keep cool, go and vote, as a peaceful exercise, as a legitimate exercise," he told reporters.

Ghana, traditionally an exporter of cocoa and gold, is preparing to start producing oil in commercial quantities from late 2010 and a major boost to the economy is anticipated.

 

[Mfumwa]

Ghana opposition claims poll win

Opposition candidate John Atta Mills says he has won Ghana's election run-off, with official results expected to be released shortly.

"The figures show clearly that I have won the election. I am only waiting for the electoral commissioner to declare me winner," he told his supporters.

Police earlier fired warning shots as large crowds converged on the election headquarters demanding the results.

The governing NPP party said the result was still too close to call.

New Patriotic Party chairman Peter Mac Manu said there had been widespread intimidation of its election agents in the Volta region and results from these areas would be challenged.

NPP candidate Nana Akufo-Addo gained the most votes in the first round earlier this month but did not pass the 50% threshold needed for outright victory.

The BBC's Will Ross in Accra says that with suspicion of vote-rigging on both sides, there are fears violence could break out.

The stakes have been raised in these elections because of the discovery of oil, which is expected to start generating revenue in 2010.

Outgoing President John Kufuor has appealed for calm and for people to wait for the final results.

The Electoral Commission on Monday declared results from 200 of the 230 constituencies, which showed Mr Atta Mills leading with 52% of the vote, against 48% for Mr Akufo-Addo.

Unofficial results published by local media suggest Mr Atta Mills has an unassailable lead with just a handful of constituencies still to declare their results.

State broadcaster Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) says Mr Atta Mills has 4,330,705 votes compared to 4,324,085 for Mr Akufo-Addo, with results declared in 226 constituencies.

These figures give the candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) 50.04%, against 49.96% for the governing NPP.

But Mr Mac Manu said unofficial predictions that Mr Atta Mills had won were "highly speculative and premature".

Ghana is seen as one of Africa's most democratic countries and is hoping to restore the continent's faith in elections after flawed polls and violence in Kenya and Zimbabwe this year.

Some 12.5 million people were eligible to vote in the election - the fifth since the country's return to democracy in 1992.

President Kufuor is standing down having served two consecutive terms.

He defeated Mr Atta Mills in the two previous elections.

Mr Atta Mills served as vice-president under former leader Jerry Rawlings.

Source: BBC Online (BBC NEWS | Africa | Ghana opposition claims poll win)

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Opposition on course to win Ghana presidential vote

John Atta Mills (l) says he has defeated Nana Akufo-Addo (r)
​

Updated 50 min(s) ago
ACCRA, Tuesday

Opposition candidate John Atta Mills is on course to win Ghana's presidential election run-off, top independent private broadcaster Joy FM said, and provisional official results also put him ahead.

With votes officially counted from 200 of the country's 230 constituencies after Sunday's run-off, the electoral commission said National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate Mills had 52.1 percent against 47.9 percent for Nana Akufo-Addo of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Electoral commission chief Kwadwo Afari-Gyan scheduled a news conference for midday (1200 GMT) on Tuesday.

"Joy FM can project that Professor John Atta Mills will win the second round of the presidential election," the radio, citing certified returns from 223 of the 230 national constituencies, announced.

Ghana's electoral regulations allow the media to announce certified results from constituencies as they are collated at individual polling stations. Only the electoral commission can declare final results or the winner.

At a news conference, Mills predicted he would win the run-off, held after an inconclusive December 7 first round in the world's No. 2 cocoa grower, which will become the latest Gulf of Guinea oil producer in 2010.

"This victory will be a victory for all Ghanaians and Atta Mills, if he should be declared winner, will be a president for everybody," Mills said, urging his supporters to stay calm.

The NPP did not concede and criticised the radio prediction.

The risk consultancy Eurasia Group, in a briefing note by Africa analyst Sebastian Spio-Garbrah, called Mills's lead "tight but insurmountable" and predicted he would be a "narrow electoral winner without a strong governing mandate".

Extremely Close

The forecasts were made as the contenders' campaign camps threatened not to accept some results because of alleged irregularities.

"The election results are extremely close and the results are likely to be decided by less than a percentage point," the domestic election observer coalition CODEO said.

It added that, while its observers reported "many lapses" in Sunday's voting, "(they) do not fundamentally undermine the integrity of the overall process". CODEO called on the electoral commission to swiftly resolve any complaints.

Sunday's Ghana run-off took place at the end of what many see as a tough year for constitutional democracy in Africa, tarnished by flawed elections in Kenya and Zimbabwe and military coups in Mauritania in August and in Guinea in the past week.

Many had hoped that Ghana, a recent favourite with investors on a turbulent continent, can buck the trend by holding a successful election for a successor to President John Kufuor. He leaves office in January after serving two terms, the constitutional maximum.

Unlike the peaceful December 7 first round, which was widely praised by international observers but failed to produce an outright winner, election monitors reported cases of disorder, intimidation and even violence in several regions on Sunday.

Rivals Mills and Akufo-Addo are both foreign-trained lawyers and both are aged 64. They have vowed to maintain the stability and growth which have made the former British colony a magnet for investment.

In the first round, Akufo-Addo finished with just over 49 percent, more than one percentage point ahead of Mills, but he failed to gain the more than 50 percent of votes needed to win.

- Reuters

The Standard | Online Edition :: Opposition on course to win Ghana presidential vote

 

[MzalendoHalisi]

Democrasia Ghana naona inaanza kukomaa-- upinzani nao wanachukua madaraka na sii kama CCM na upinzania Tz!

 

[Mfumwa]

Ghana knife-edge result delayed

The electoral commissioner of Ghana has delayed the final result of Sunday's presidential run-off until Friday.

Results in the Ashanti and Volta areas have been disputed, and the Tain region, where the poll was delayed, will now vote on Friday.

Officials said the contest between the opposition's John Atta Mills and ruling party's Nana Akufo-Addo was so close one result could decide the outcome.

The BBC correspondent in Ghana says the further delay might heighten tensions.

New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate Mr Akufo-Addo gained the most votes in the first round earlier this month but did not pass the 50% threshold needed for outright victory.

Electoral commission chairman Kwadwo Afari-Gyan said opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate Mr Atta Mills had won 50.13% of the vote, while Mr Akufo-Addo had taken 49.87%.

This means just 23,055 votes divide the two candidates, out of a total cast of some 9m.

"Results are so close that the result of the Tain constituency could affect the eventual winner," Mr Afari-Gyan said.

Warning shots

He said the results covered all 230 constituencies, except Tain in the Brong Ahafo region, which was unable to vote on Sunday because of a problem with voting materials.

According to the Daily Guide newspaper, the ruling party had accused electoral officials in Tain of stealing about 1,820 ballot papers, which they claimed were given to the opposition.

The district has some 53,000 registered voters.

The privately-owned Joy FM radio station reported that during the first round of the vote in Tain earlier this month, 30,000 electors turned out and awarded a narrow victory to Mr Atta Mills.

The commissioner, who has been stuck in behind-closed-doors wrangling with both parties in the capital Accra, said they would also use the delay to audit the disputed results.

The electoral commission headquarters was besieged for much of Tuesday by thousands of NDC supporters demanding their candidate be declared the winner.

Armed police and soldiers backed by water cannon trucks and an armoured personnel carrier kept the protesters behind barricades and at one point fired warning shots.

Ice cream

As tensions rose, party officials handed out ice cream and water to the crowds to calm them down.

Mr Atta Mills had earlier claimed victory, but the NPP said this was premature.

Shops closed early on Tuesday, with businessmen fearing that there could be looting once the result is announced.

The opposition has been disputing results awarded to the governing party from five constituencies in its stronghold of the Ashanti region.

It is understood turnout in one area was recorded at 99% - said by election experts to be unheard of - while there were also complaints dead people, children and foreign nationals had been listed among voters.

The NPP, meanwhile, said there had been widespread intimidation of its election agents in the Volta region and results from these areas would be challenged.

International observers have given the poll a preliminary clean bill of health and urged both candidates to accept the results.

Some 12.5 million people were eligible to vote in the election - the fifth since Ghana's return to democracy in 1992.

President John Kufuor is standing down having served two consecutive terms.

In the two previous elections he defeated Mr Atta Mills.

Mr Atta Mills served as vice-president under former leader Jerry Rawlings.

Monitors hope Ghana's poll can help salvage the tarnished image of constitutional democracy in Africa, after flawed elections in Kenya and Zimbabwe and military coups in Mauritania in August and in Guinea last week.

The stakes have been raised in these elections because Ghana has just found oil, which is expected to start generating revenue in 2010.

Source: BBC NEWS | Africa | Ghana knife-edge result delayed

 

[BAK]

Ghanaian leader in plea to rivals
BBC News Online

Tain is set to decide the cliff-hanger presidential race
Ghanaian President John Kufuor has urged both candidates in the election to choose his successor to respect the result, as the last constituency votes.

Mr Kufuor appealed for calm and said any complaints of vote-rigging should be dealt with by the courts after the new president is sworn in on Wednesday.

The opposition leader, John Atta Mills, has a narrow lead over the governing party candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo.

Mr Akufo-Addo's lawyers are trying to stop a final result being announced.

His New Patriotic Front (NPP) also sought an injunction to prevent Friday's voting in Tain, claiming conditions in the remote rural constituency were not conducive to a free and fair election.

'Constitutional crisis'

But the BBC's Will Ross in Ghana's capital, Accra, says there is growing pressure on the governing party to accept the outcome of the election and to avoid stalling the process.

Each politician and each political party should keep the stability of the country over and above their own interests

President John Kufour spoke out amid heightened fears of poll-related violence, urging both candidates to avert a constitutional crisis.

He is stepping down after serving the maximum two terms in office and his successor is due to take office on 7 January.

Tain did not vote in last Sunday's run-off because of a problem distributing ballots.

Soldiers and police have been deployed across the district - the last of Ghana's 230 constituencies to vote - and polling stations are due to close at 1700 GMT.

The electoral commission is not expected to announce the outcome from the district, along with the presidential result, until Saturday at the earliest.

'Loudhailers'

Ghanaian state radio reported that NPP agents with loudhailers had toured towns and villages in the district on Thursday night urging supporters to boycott the vote. The party's attempts to block the ballot have been criticised by civil groups.

Our correspondent says Mr Akufo-Addo cannot realistically win enough support among Tain's 53,000 eligible voters to overturn the lead held by Mr Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Mr Atta Mills won the area in the first round of voting on 7 December and the NDC is confident of victory.

He has 50.13% of the approximately 9m votes already cast, compared with 49.87% for Mr Akufo-Addo.

Just over 23,000 votes separate the two candidates.

Mr Akufo-Addo won the first round in the national result but not by enough to avoid the run-off.

Officials from the NPP have been meeting and election observers suggest the party is now split on whether Mr Akufo-Addo should accept defeat, says our correspondent.

The president of West African body Ecowas has said that in the interests of the country the candidate with the least votes should concede by the end of Friday.

Mohammed Ibn Chambas told the BBC: "I believe that there comes the moment when each politician and each political party should place the supreme interest in the country to keep the stability of the country over and above their own interests.''

The NPP has complained of alleged intimidation during voting in the Volta region, while the NDC claimed there had been vote-rigging in the Ashanti area.

The electoral commission had said it would investigate those claims if provided with evidence.

 

[Hofstede]

Kufuor steps into Ghana election dispute, urges results acceptance
News - Africa news
Accra, Ghana - Ghana's President John Agyekum Kufuor on Friday stepped into the country's raging election dispute, urging all stakeholders to yield to the authority of the Electoral Commission (EC) when it declares the results of the presidential election.

In a statement here, he noted that the two contesting parties – the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) - had raised pertinent concerns which were being addressed by the EC.

"It is important, however, that we meet the constitutional time table for handing over on 7 January. I therefore urge all stakeholders to yield to the authority of the Electoral Commissioner when he declares the results. Any outstanding issues may be settled later by due process," the outgoing President advised.

President Kufuor also appealed to the media to exercise "the greatest sense of responsibility and circumspection" in discharging their functions.

"They must not inflame passions or incite people to undertake negative actions. Rather, their work should be guided by the public good at all times," he urged.

The President said on the part of the security forces, he was aware that the nation could count on them to remain neutral and to "display the highest sense of professionalism" in the conduct of their work at this very critical time in the country's history.

President Kufuor also enjoined the general public to remain calm until the result of the election was declared by the Electoral Commission to facilitate the transfer of power from his government to the next on 7 January as mandated by the nation's constitution.

Meanwhile, voting is going on smoothly at the Tain constituency in the Brong Ahafo Region, the outcome of which will determine the winner of the 2008 presidential election.

The ruling NPP has decided to boycott the Tain vote, citing insecurity, but the police said they had no reports of violence or intimidation.

Its lawyers have also filed another writ to stop the vote in Tain, but the EC said it had no idea and therefore the vote should proceed.

The NDC candidate, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, is ahead in the polls going into the Tain constituency voting.

In the regional breakdown, Prof. Mills has won in eight of the 10 regions – Western, Central Greater Accra, Volta, Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper East and Upper West.

Nana Akufo-Addo, candidate of the NPP, won in two regions – Eastern and Ashanti Regions.

Results from 229 out of the 230 constituencies that have been certified by the EC give Prof Mills 4,501,466 votes, representing 50.13 per cent of total valid votes cast, while Akufo-Addo garnered 4,478,411 votes, representing 49.87 per cent.

Prof Mills won in the Tain constituency during the first round on 7 December.

He obtained 16,211 votes, representing 50.7 per cent, while Akufo-Addo got 14,935 votes, representing 46.8 per cent.

Accra - 02/01/2009

Pana

 

[Njowepo]

Ghana's opposition party candidate John Atta Mills stands in his office in Accra, Ghana Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008 file photo.
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Opposition candidate John Atta Mills has won a tight presidential run-off in Ghana, electoral officials have said.

The announcement came after results from the last constituency to vote extended his lead over Nana Akufo-Addo - his rival from the governing party.

Mr Akufo-Addo's party boycotted Friday's vote in Tain constituency, citing security concerns there.

Claims of rigging have been made by both sides and the electoral commission has pledged to examine any evidence.

Source:BBC