CODEO projects close race, calls for calm

Accra, Dec. 29, GNA - The Coalition of Domestic Observers (CODEO) says its data from Sunday's Presidential Election Runoff indicate that the result would be "extremely close" and urged the two candidates to accept the result.

CODEO said in a statement signed by Professor Miranda Greenstreet and Justice VCRAC Crabbe, Joint Chairpersons, that data from its representative random sample of more than 1,000 polling stations from 229 constituencies indicated that the election results were "extremely close and the results are likely to be decided by less than a percentage point".

CODEO did not mention the name of the candidate its projection shows won the tight race. ".we encourage the two presidential candidates and their respective political parties to accept the official results. We encourage the victors to be magnanimous. "The President-Elect when sworn in will be president of all Ghanaians during the coming four years and must, therefore, move quickly beyond the partisan politics of the electoral cycle to earn the support of all Ghanaians."

CODEO said its observers reported many lapses in the voting process in the presidential runoff election including setting up and opening of polling stations, voting and vote counting, but the problems "do not fundamentally undermine the integrity of the overall process". On the election itself, CODEO said its observers reported a higher number of problems and lapses in the December 28 runoff election than the presidential and general election of December 7 2008. "Two main factors account for that: the extremely high stakes nature of the presidential runoff election in which only one party could win; and the short time available for the Electoral Commission to organize the second round."

CODEO said: "The Electoral Commission must swiftly and decisively resolve the concerns raised by political contestants concerning the conduct of the presidential runoff election. Any recounts or re-collations should be conducted without delay. CODEO also called upon the Electoral Commission to do its best to issue polling station results along with the overall results to ensure that the official results of this highly competitive election are accepted by all parties, their supporters as well as the general public.

It said while the Electoral Commission was not required to take such a step, the release of polling stations results would significantly reduce post-election tensions while reinforcing confidence in the Electoral Commission's impartiality. The coalition also called on Ghanaians, including leaders of political parties and their supporters, to continue to place confidence in the Electoral Commission.