Ghana's main opposition party claims victory day after tight vote

Ghana’s main opposition party said on Thursday (December 8) it had a strong lead in presidential elections and called on incumbent John Mahama to concede defeat – comments dismissed as “treasonable” by Mahama’s campaign team.

The New Patriotic Party said its candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, had won 52 percent of the vote according to its own tally of Wednesday’s presidential poll, against 44.8 percent for Mahama.

The Electoral Commission said it had not certified any results in the race to lead the West African nation that has seen a series of peaceful transfers of power.

Ghana’s electoral commission spokesman Eric Dzakpasu said the agency would start releasing results on Thursday from the presidential and parliamentary vote.

A run-off between the top two candidates will follow if no candidate wins a majority.