- Title: Ghana opposition calls on president to concede election defeat
- Date: 8th December 2016
- Summary: ACCRA, GHANA (DECEMBER 7, 2016) (REUTERS) BALLOT BOXES BEING TAKEN INTO COLLATION CENTRE POLLING OFFICIALS WAITING AT CENTRE SECURITY AND OFFICIALS WALKING THOUGH GATE OF CENTRE NAME TAG ON SHIRT OF GREATER ACCRA REGIONAL POLICE COMMANDER ACP T.Y. BONGA (SOUNDBITE) (English) GREATER ACCRA REGIONAL POLICE COMMANDER, ACP T. Y.. BONGA, SAYING: "The little, little skirmishes or troubles we registered were disorderliness in the queue due to some places, maybe numbers, everybody eager to vote. And then maybe one or two people who said they could not find their names in the register. Apart from these few issues, generally it has been very peaceful." MAN WITH BALLOT BOX ON HIS SHOULDER NOTICE ON BALLOT BOX READING (English): "GENERAL ELECTIONS, 2016 / PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION" STICKER ON BAG READING (English): "ELECTORAL COMMISSION GHANA", VARIOUS OF BAGS FULL OF VOTES VARIOUS OF POLLING OFFICIALS WITH BALLOT BAGS AND BOXES BALLOT BOXES AND BAGS VARIOUS OF POLLING OFFICIAL WRITING ON BAG, OPENING BAG, TAKING OUT VOTES ACCRA, GHANA (DECEMBER 8, 2016) (REUTERS) CITY VIEW OF ACCRA BILLBOARD OF OPPOSITION LEADER, NANA AKUFO-ADDO VARIOUS STREET SCENES WITH MARKETS, SCHOOLCHILDREN AND PEOPLE VARIOUS OF BILLBOARD OF PRESIDENT, JOHN MAHAMA
- Embargoed: 23rd December 2016 11:13
- Keywords: Ghana election John Mahama Nana Akufo-Addo
- Location: ACCRA, GHANA
- City: ACCRA, GHANA
- Country: Ghana
- Reuters ID: LVA0015C0TOAV
- 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. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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