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| Ghana examines vote fraud claims | Ghana examines vote fraud claims |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Ghana poll monitors are probing claims of fraud as partial unofficial results suggest the presidential vote count remains too close to call. | Ghana poll monitors are probing claims of fraud as partial unofficial results suggest the presidential vote count remains too close to call. |
| Local media project the opposition's John Atta Mills has a slender lead over the governing party's Nana Akufo-Addo. | Local media project the opposition's John Atta Mills has a slender lead over the governing party's Nana Akufo-Addo. |
| There have been claims by both sides of intimidation, physical assault against polling officials and multiple voting. | There have been claims by both sides of intimidation, physical assault against polling officials and multiple voting. |
| Mr Akufo-Addo narrowly beat his rival in the first round on 7 December but not by enough to avoid the run-off. | Mr Akufo-Addo narrowly beat his rival in the first round on 7 December but not by enough to avoid the run-off. |
| According to partial unofficial results, the opposition's Mr Atta Mills has some 4.30m votes against 4.16m for Mr Akufo-Addo, from 222 out of a total 230 constituencies, reports the website of privately-owned Joy FM radio. | |
| The final official outcome is expected on Tuesday. | The final official outcome is expected on Tuesday. |
| Both men hope to succeed President John Kufuor, who has served two terms. | Both men hope to succeed President John Kufuor, who has served two terms. |
| The stakes are high as Ghana has just found oil. | The stakes are high as Ghana has just found oil. |
| The two main political parties - the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of Mr Atta Mills - both complained about apparent efforts to rig the vote. | The two main political parties - the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of Mr Atta Mills - both complained about apparent efforts to rig the vote. |
| Rumours | Rumours |
| The BBC's Will Ross in the capital Accra says the possibility of the result being disputed is high, as there were some irregularities on polling day and both parties are claiming foul play. | The BBC's Will Ross in the capital Accra says the possibility of the result being disputed is high, as there were some irregularities on polling day and both parties are claiming foul play. |
| RIVALS AT A GLANCE JOHN ATTA MILLS (left)Age: 64Party: National Democratic CongressExecutive posts: Vice-president 1997-2000Profession: TeacherHobbies: Hockey, swimmingFamily: Married with one childNANA AKUFO-ADDO (right)Age: 64Party: New Patriotic PartyExecutive posts: Attorney general 2001-03; foreign affairs minister 2003-07Profession: LawyerFamily: Married with five children Ghana heads for run-off nail-biterQ&A: Ghana election run-off | RIVALS AT A GLANCE JOHN ATTA MILLS (left)Age: 64Party: National Democratic CongressExecutive posts: Vice-president 1997-2000Profession: TeacherHobbies: Hockey, swimmingFamily: Married with one childNANA AKUFO-ADDO (right)Age: 64Party: New Patriotic PartyExecutive posts: Attorney general 2001-03; foreign affairs minister 2003-07Profession: LawyerFamily: Married with five children Ghana heads for run-off nail-biterQ&A: Ghana election run-off |
| The ruling NPP said its polling agents were intimidated in the opposition stronghold of Volta Region. | The ruling NPP said its polling agents were intimidated in the opposition stronghold of Volta Region. |
| NPP campaign chairman Jake Obetsebi Lamptey said: | NPP campaign chairman Jake Obetsebi Lamptey said: |
| "In these circumstances where our agents have been unable to monitor the voting process they will not be able to endorse the declared results." | "In these circumstances where our agents have been unable to monitor the voting process they will not be able to endorse the declared results." |
| The opposition has similar complaints in the governing party stronghold of the Ashanti region. | The opposition has similar complaints in the governing party stronghold of the Ashanti region. |
| NDC officials have told the BBC that half of its polling agents there were harassed, had to flee and were not able to endorse the results. | NDC officials have told the BBC that half of its polling agents there were harassed, had to flee and were not able to endorse the results. |
| But our correspondent says some may view this as an excuse by both sides in case the final result does not go their way and there is a danger this vote could be heading for acrimony. | But our correspondent says some may view this as an excuse by both sides in case the final result does not go their way and there is a danger this vote could be heading for acrimony. |
| The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers said it would investigate dozens of cases of irregularities reported at polling stations parts of the country. | The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers said it would investigate dozens of cases of irregularities reported at polling stations parts of the country. |
| It said it was "concerned with the rising number of incidents in the run-off compared to the December 7 election," reported AFP news agency. | It said it was "concerned with the rising number of incidents in the run-off compared to the December 7 election," reported AFP news agency. |
| Ghana is seen as one of Africa's most democratic countries and is hoping to restore the continent's faith in elections after flawed polls and violence in Kenya and Zimbabwe this year. | Ghana is seen as one of Africa's most democratic countries and is hoping to restore the continent's faith in elections after flawed polls and violence in Kenya and Zimbabwe this year. |
| Some 12.5 million people were eligible to vote in the election - the fifth since the country's return to democracy in 1992. | Some 12.5 million people were eligible to vote in the election - the fifth since the country's return to democracy in 1992. |
| The US envoy to Africa, Jendayi Frazer, urged both parties not to spread rumours. | The US envoy to Africa, Jendayi Frazer, urged both parties not to spread rumours. |
| "Some of the statements by the political parties' officials have been irresponsible and there are a number of rumours that have been going on that are being repeated by some of the radio stations that are associated with the parties," she said. | "Some of the statements by the political parties' officials have been irresponsible and there are a number of rumours that have been going on that are being repeated by some of the radio stations that are associated with the parties," she said. |
| In Accra and across the West African state during Sunday's vote, queues formed outside schools and other public buildings where polling stations were operating, guarded by armed soldiers and police. | In Accra and across the West African state during Sunday's vote, queues formed outside schools and other public buildings where polling stations were operating, guarded by armed soldiers and police. |
| Mr Akufo-Addo won the first round with 49% of the vote. | Mr Akufo-Addo won the first round with 49% of the vote. |
| President Kufuor, who has to stand down having served two consecutive terms, urged Ghanaians to "keep cool" on the eve of the poll. | President Kufuor, who has to stand down having served two consecutive terms, urged Ghanaians to "keep cool" on the eve of the poll. |
| Ghana, traditionally an exporter of cocoa and gold, is preparing to start producing oil from late 2010. | Ghana, traditionally an exporter of cocoa and gold, is preparing to start producing oil from late 2010. |