Ghana's John
Dramani Mahama urged respect for results giving him victory in presidential
polls after the opposition alleged fraud in a nation trying to uphold its image
as a model African democracy.
There were no
reports of trouble on the streets of the west African nation's capital Accra on
Monday morning after the closely fought polls that led to mounting tension
ahead of the announcement of the results late on Sunday.
Celebrations broke
out after the results announcement, with hundreds of ruling party supporters
gathering in the streets, blowing horns, dancing and waving flags.
"I call on
all leaders of all political parties to respect the voice of the people,"
incumbent Mahama, only in office since the death of his predecessor in July,
said in a victory speech. "The voice of the people is the voice of
God."
The stakes of the
election held over Friday and Saturday were especially high in a country with a
booming economy fuelled partly by a new and expanding oil industry.
Results compiled
by local media had early on Sunday pointed to a Mahama win, leading the
opposition to strongly reject them, alleging fraud and claiming it had evidence
that its candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, was the real winner.
Peaceful and
transparent
According to the
electoral commission, Mahama won with 50.70% of the votes cast, compared to
Akufo-Addo's 47.74%. With eight candidates in the race, more than 50% was
needed to avoid a second-round runoff.
Akufo-Addo's New
Patriotic Party said the results announced "by the evidence do not reflect
the mandate of the required majority of the Ghanaian electorate".
Party officials
would meet on Tuesday to decide the way forward, it said in a statement which
also called on its supporters to remain calm.
The head of the
country's Peace Council, a multi-party platform set up to facilitate peaceful
polls, told local radio that the electoral commission met with the two parties
for more than an hour before announcing the results.
Akufo-Addo's party
was given a chance to present its case, but the electoral commission found that
more evidence was needed, Citi FM reported on its website.
"The
agreement was that the [commission] would announce the winner while the NPP can
seek the proper redress through the channels laid down as they produce further
evidence to facilitate that," Emmanuel Asante told the station.
Turnout was put at
more than 79%. Observers from the Commonwealth, West African bloc Ecowas and
local group CODEO all said the vote appeared peaceful and transparent.