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Opposition Consolidates Lead

Fri, 8 Dec 2000 Source: Panafrican News Agency

Results from Thursday's presidential and parliamentary elections show that the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Agyekum Kufuor and the party's parliamentary candidates are consolidating their lead.

They appear to be doing exceptionally well in the 20 percent of results so far released. And their performance cuts across Western, Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Greater Accra and Eastern regions of the country.

With about 20 percent of the constituencies declared, Kufuor has about 60 percent while Vice-President John Atta Mills of the ruling National Democratic Congress has scored around 35 percent.

The other five candidates share the rest.

The NPP has cut deep into the territories of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Brong Ahafo Region where Agriculture Minister, Joseph Owusu-Acheampong, has lost his Berekum seat. Richard Dornu-Nartey, Nii Adjei Boye Sekan and Interior Minister, Nii Okaija Adamafio are the other casualties.

John Mahama, Minister of Communications, however, retained his seat comfortably.

The results so far show that the NDC and the NPP are the two dominant parties. Seven parties contested the election.

Dan Botwe, general secretary of the NPP said they are encouraged by the results so far and confident of winning in the first round.

"Results we have compiled so far from the various polling stations in Accra and from the regions indicate a lead for the NPP in both presidential and parliamentary elections," he said.

"Our morale even gets higher as the polling stations results come in.

Currently we are not thinking of a second round anymore," he said.

But the propaganda secretary of the NDC said it is too early to reach any trend in the results so far announced.

Meanwhile, two presidential candidates, Dr Charles Wereko-Brobby of the United Ghana Movement (UGM) and Prof. George Hagan of the Convention People's Party (CPP) have already conceded defeat.

Source: Panafrican News Agency