Ghana’s main opposition party says it has a strong lead in the presidential election and has called on President John Mahama to accept defeat, but the incumbent’s campaign team has itself countered the claim, dismissing it as “treasonable”.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) said Nana Akufo-Addo, its candidate, had won 52 per cent of the vote according to its own tally of Wednesday’s presidential poll — against 44.8 per cent for Mahama.
The electoral commission said it had not certified any results in the closely-fought race, however, figures shown by television and radio stations showed the opposition making gains.
“These are results that were declared at the polling stations. I am calling on the president to concede the election,” Peter Mac Manu, NPP campaign chief, said.
Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, a senior official of the ruling party, countered that Mahama was “comfortably ahead” and asked his supporters to remain calm.
“The results are still trickling in and the call and declaration by the NPP is irresponsible and treasonable because it can throw this country into chaos,” he said.
Ghana is one of Africa’s most stable democracies and voters have rejected 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.
