Ghana’s election enters round two

With results declared from 199 constituencies in Ghana's presidential and parliamentary elections held last Thursday, none of the presidential candidates made the 50 per cent plus one vote required by the constitution to win the presidency on the first ballot, the Electoral Commissioner, Dr Kwdwo Afari-Gyan told the press this afternoon.

As a result, the leader of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr John Agyekum Kufuor who had, 3,104,393, representing 48.44 percent of the valid votes cast and Prof. John Evans Atta Mills of the ruling National Democratic Congress, who had 2,871,051, representing 44.8 percent, are set for a second round contest.

The rest of the 6,408,231 valid votes cast was distributed among the rest of the candidates as follows; Mr Dan Lartey of GCPP, 66,439 representing one percent, Mr George Hagan of CPP, 114,531, representing 1.8 percent, Dr. Edward Mahama of PNC got 158,419, representing 2.5 percent, Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobbey of UGM; 21,803, 0.3 percent and the NRP; 71,595, 1.1 percent.

Dr Afari-Gyan says the Commission will need about 15 billion cedis to conduct the re-run of the election, which will come off 21 days after formal declaration of the results. ($1 = 6,761 cedis)

He said the results will first be made available to the political parties to raise objections, if any, before formal declaration will be made. Answering questions from journalist at a press conference in Accra, he expressed the hope that money would be made available to conduct the second ballot. Ghana's economy has been in crises following a shortfall in revenue and a currency crises, which has plunge the cedi, the national currency.

The only result, which has not been declared, is from the Bawku Central constituency where violence has erupted in the aftermath of the elections. However, Dr Afari-Gyan said even if that result is declared, it will not give any of the two candidates the required percentage.

Earlier before the press conference, two of the presidential candidates in Thursday's elections had conceded defeat and said they will ask supporters to vote for Mr Kofour in the event of a run-off. In the parliamentary elections NPP, which had 63 seats in the current legislature has won 102 seats whiles the NDC which had 131 has 89 seats, with the remaining eight distributed among two smaller parties and independent candidates.

The elections marks the end of 19 years rule of President Jerry John Rawlings and it will be the first time an elected government will be handing over power to another, since independence 43 years ago.