Veep optimistic of NPP victory

Accra, Dec. 28, GNA - Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Sunday expressed the hope that the December 28 Presidential Election Runoff, would build on the victory chalked out by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the December 7 general election.

He said he was surprised that the NPP did not net a one-touch victory on December 7, but stressed that that, "this time round Ghanaians are in the process of electing a leader for the country and that leader is Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo".

Alhaji Mahama, who was in the company of his wife Hajia Ramatu, made this known to journalists when he cast his vote at the Civil Servants' Training School, which falls under the La-Dadekotopon Constituency in Accra.

"This time round Nana Akufo-Addo will prevail and NPP will emerge as winners," he said.

Alhaji Mahama complained about the low voter turn-out in

parts of the Metropolis and expressed the hope that the trend

would change before the close of the day. The run-off contest is between Nana Akufo-Addo of the NPP

and Professor John Evans Atta Mills of the National Democratic

Congress (NDC), due to their inability to secure the mandated 51

per cent. Nana Akufo-Addo recorded 49.13 per cent while Professor

Mills had 47.92 per cent. Ghanaians are expected to turnout in their numbers to exercise

their franchise in the 230 constituencies and 21,004 polling

stations. Polling started at 0700 hours and would continue until 1700

hours. The first results are expected late on Sunday night or early

on Monday morning. The Electoral Commission expects the

results to be declared within 48 hours. Election 2008 Presidential Runoff, considered as historic,

would lead to the second uninterrupted handover of power by an

elected leader to another elected leader in the country's 51-year

political history. It is the fifth successive multi-party elections under the Fourth

Republic. Former President Jerry Rawlings, who transformed

himself from a military leader into a democratically elected

president in 1992 on the ticket of the NDC, served his full two

terms. His term of office ended on January 6, 2001. President John Agyekum Kufuor, who won the presidency on

the ticket of the NPP, would be the second Ghanaian elected

leader to hand over to another elected leader. Seven political parties and an independent candidate contested

for the single presidential slot.