Ghana opposition calls on president to concede election defeat

Record ID: 76384

  • Title: Ghana opposition calls on president to concede election defeat
  • Date: 8th December 2016
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) VOTER, AMINU, SAYING: "Inshallah my candidate is winning. My candidate is winning because so far, looking at things, it's like my side we have seized almost half of the seats I was expecting us to seize from the other side. My candidate is progressing. I hope EC (Electoral Commission) will declare my candidate as a winner of this year's election." PEOPLE WALKING IN STREET
  • Embargoed: 23rd December 2016 11:13
  • Keywords: Ghana election John Mahama Nana Akufo-Addo
  • Location: ACCRA, GHANA
  • City: ACCRA, GHANA
  • Country: Ghana
  • Reuters ID: LVA0055C0TOAV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: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 (NPP) 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.
    Ghana voted on Wednesday (December 7) in a presidential election that looks set to be a tight race, with Mahama seeking a second term in charge of an economy that has slowed since he took power.
    Counting started immediately after polls closed at 5 p.m. (1700 GMT), for around 29,000 polling stations and 275 constituencies across 10 regions.
    Polling officials transported ballot boxes and bags full of votes to collation centres in the capital Accra late on Wednesday night.
    Reports showed few voting problems, according to the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers. But voting was re-scheduled for Thursday in Jaman North constituency in Brong Ahafo region because of security concerns and logistical problems.
    Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, ACP T. Y. Bongo said that overall, the election went smoothly.
    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.
    There are seven presidential contenders, including five minor candidates.
    In a parallel parliamentary vote, 275 seats are being contested.
    Ghana is one of Africa's most stable democracies and voters have ejected the government of the day twice since 2000.
    Until 2014, the country also had one of Africa's most dynamic economies, though growth has slowed in part due to a fall in the price of its commodity exports.
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