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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Ruling party's man leads in Ghana | Ruling party's man leads in Ghana |
| (about 19 hours later) | |
| The candidate of Ghana's ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, is narrowly ahead in the ongoing count from Sunday's presidential election. | The candidate of Ghana's ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, is narrowly ahead in the ongoing count from Sunday's presidential election. |
| He holds a slender lead over opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) contender John Atta Mills. | He holds a slender lead over opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) contender John Atta Mills. |
| But with most precincts counted it is not yet clear if either has over the 50% of votes needed to avoid a run-off. | But with most precincts counted it is not yet clear if either has over the 50% of votes needed to avoid a run-off. |
| Our correspondent says results are being disputed, raising the risk of a peaceful poll turning acrimonious. | Our correspondent says results are being disputed, raising the risk of a peaceful poll turning acrimonious. |
| The NDC has accused the governing party of plotting to rig the election, with the support of the military. | The NDC has accused the governing party of plotting to rig the election, with the support of the military. |
| 'Mischievous' | 'Mischievous' |
| 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." | 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." |
| Opposition supporters are confident their candidate will win | Opposition supporters are confident their candidate will win |
| The military branded the allegations "totally false, mischievous and calculated to undermine the integrity of the military high command and the unity of the country", reported AFP. | The military branded the allegations "totally false, mischievous and calculated to undermine the integrity of the military high command and the unity of the country", reported AFP. |
| The elections, which attracted a high turnout, "have so far been conducted in an open, transparent and competitive environment", said a team of observers from the European Union on Tuesday. | The elections, which attracted a high turnout, "have so far been conducted in an open, transparent and competitive environment", said a team of observers from the European Union on Tuesday. |
| However, there have been isolated reports of violence. | However, there have been isolated reports of violence. |
| Two-horse race | Two-horse race |
| Ghanaian electoral officials were attacked by youths and two ballot boxes were seized, minutes after results were declared from some polling stations in the mainly pro-NDC Volta region of eastern Ghana. | Ghanaian electoral officials were attacked by youths and two ballot boxes were seized, minutes after results were declared from some polling stations in the mainly pro-NDC Volta region of eastern Ghana. |
| If neither of the two leading contenders can make it over a 50% share of the vote, a run-off must be held on 28 December. | If neither of the two leading contenders can make it over a 50% share of the vote, a run-off must be held on 28 December. |
| 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 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. |
| Ghana's voters' viewsCan Ghana trounce the bad news?Send us your commentsIn pictures: Ghana votes | Ghana's voters' viewsCan Ghana trounce the bad news?Send us your commentsIn pictures: Ghana votes |
| There was a poor showing for third-place candidate Papa Kwesi Nduom, of the Convention People's Party, who had been seen as a possible kingmaker or spoiler. | There was a poor showing for third-place candidate Papa Kwesi Nduom, of the Convention People's Party, who had been seen as a possible kingmaker or spoiler. |
| The electoral commission has until Wednesday afternoon to release the final official results from Ghana's fifth set of elections since embracing multi-party democracy in 1992. | The electoral commission has until Wednesday afternoon to release the final official results from Ghana's fifth set of elections since embracing multi-party democracy in 1992. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 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 22 million people is the world's second biggest cocoa grower and Africa's number two gold miner. |