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Ruling party's man leads in Ghana Ruling party's man leads in Ghana
(about 2 hours later)
The candidate of Ghana's ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, has pulled ahead in the count from Sunday's presidential election.The candidate of Ghana's ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, has pulled ahead in the count from Sunday's presidential election.
He holds slightly more than 49% of the vote with more than half of the precincts in Ghana tabulated but a run-off may still be held. He holds a slender lead with more than half of precincts counted, but a run-off vote could still be held.
John Atta Mills of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) trails him by slightly more than 2%. John Atta Mills, of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), is close behind.
President John Kufuor, 70, steps down in January having served two terms. Our correspondent says results are being disputed, raising the risk of a peaceful poll turning acrimonious.
Turnout was high for the peaceful vote, which was given a clean bill of health by a 200-member international observation team. The NDC has accused the governing party of plotting to rig the election, with the support of the military.
The opposition NDC has accused the electoral commission of planning to declare victory for the governing party with the support of the military. But the NPP denied the charges, saying in a statement reported by AFP news agency: "The NDC is not winning and we are not trying to rig this election."
Run-off possible
The opposition party's head of communications, Koku Anyidiho, said they had heard that if there were any protests over the move, the military would suppress them by force.
Ghana's voters' viewsCan Ghana trounce the bad news?Send us your commentsIn pictures: Ghana votesGhana's voters' viewsCan Ghana trounce the bad news?Send us your commentsIn pictures: Ghana votes
The BBC's Will Ross in the Ghanaian capital Accra says it is an exceedingly tight race to the presidency. The elections, which attracted a high turnout, have been given a clean bill of health by international observers who said the poll would set a democratic example to the rest of Africa.
But it is still not clear if either candidate will make it over the required 50% to avoid a second round run-off in three weeks' time. If neither of the two leading contenders can make it over a 50% share of the vote, a run-off must be held in three weeks' time.
There were eight candidates for president, but the election has been a two-horse race, our correspondent adds. There were eight candidates to succeed President John Kufuor - who steps down in January having served the maximum two terms - but the election has been a two-horse race, says the BBC's Will Ross in Accra.
There was a poor showing for third-place candidate Papa Kwesi Nduom, of the Convention People's Party (CPP), who had been seen as a possible kingmaker or spoiler.
The electoral commission has until Wednesday afternoon to release the final official results.The electoral commission has until Wednesday afternoon to release the final official results.
There is little love lost between the two main political parties, our correspondent adds. Neck-and-neck
New parliament
Ghana is also choosing its new parliament. The governing party had a clear majority before this election but that is no longer the case and the two rival parties are neck-and-neck.Ghana is also choosing its new parliament. The governing party had a clear majority before this election but that is no longer the case and the two rival parties are neck-and-neck.
Several of the results are being disputed and given how close the race is, there is a danger that what has so far been a peaceful election will become more acrimonious, says our correspondent.
Results so far show the centre-right NPP has lost some key seats to its opposition rival, including that of President Kufuor's information minister.Results so far show the centre-right NPP has lost some key seats to its opposition rival, including that of President Kufuor's information minister.
Ghana was the first African state to gain its independence in 1957, but was plagued by coups until the return to multi-party democracy in 1992. The former British colony was the first African state to gain its independence in 1957, but was plagued by coups until the return to multi-party democracy in 1992.
The nation of 23 million people is the world's second biggest cocoa grower and Africa's number two gold miner.The nation of 23 million people is the world's second biggest cocoa grower and Africa's number two gold miner.