Victor Omoregie, With Agency Report
30 December 2008
Lagos — Reports from Ghana indicate that opposition candidate, John Evans Atta Mills, of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is leading the country's presidential election run-off with 51.39 percent of the votes from 164 of the 230 constituencies, while Nana Akufo-Addo, the candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has 48.61 per cent.
However, Ghana polls monitors are investigating claims of fraud as supporters of Nana Akufo-Addo and the opposition's John Atta Mills claim the other side committed election fraud and intimidation. Mr Akufo-Addo narrowly beat his rival in the first round on 7 December but not by enough votes to avoid the run-off.
According to the partial unofficial results, the opposition candidate garnered 4.21m votes against 4.04m for Mr Akufo-Addo. The official result will be announced today.
Atta Mills who called for a change in Ghanaian politics reacted to his purported win at the polls saying "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."
The two main political parties - the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of Mr Atta Mills both complained about apparent efforts to rig the votes.
There have been allegations from both sides of intimidation, physical assault against polling officials and multiple voting.
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 fourth since the country's return to democracy in 1992.
The US envoy to Africa, Jendayi Frazer, urged both parties not to spread rumours. "Some of the statements by the political parties' officials have been irresponsible and there are a number of rumours that have been going on that are being repeated by some of the radio stations that are associated with the parties," she said.
In Accra and across the West African state during Sunday's vote, 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.
"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 the 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, urged Ghanaians to "keep cool" and vote "as a peaceful exercise, as a legitimate exercise".
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.
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