Mahama wins Ghana Presidential polls
GHANA: Ghanaian incumbent John Dramani Mahama was on Sunday
declared the winner of closely fought presidential polls, but the
opposition alleged fraud in a nation that has been seen as a model of
African democracy.
The electoral commission announced the result after a day of twists
and turns linked to the vote on Friday and Saturday, with the stakes
especially high in a country with a booming economy fuelled partly by
newly discovered oil. Results compiled by local media had early Sunday
pointed to a Mahama win, leading the opposition to strongly reject them,
allegingfraud and claiming it had evidence that its candidate, Nana
Akufo-Addo, was the real winner.
According to the electoral commission, Mahama won with 50.70 percent
of the votes cast, compared to Akufo-Addo’s 47.74 percent. With eight
candidates in the race, more than 50 percent was needed to avoid a
second-round runoff. Turnout was put at more than 79 percent. Observers
from the Commonwealth, West African bloc ECOWAS and local group CODEO
The 54-year-old Mahama, previously Vice President, has only been head
of state since July following the death of his predecessor John Atta
Mills. AFP
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