30 Dec 2008

Opposition candidate tipped to win election in Ghana

8:02 am on 30 December 2008

Independent broadcaster Joy FM said on Monday that Opposition candidate John Atta Mills is ahead in a run-off presidential election in Ghana and predicted he would win.

However, the official electoral commission said it was still collecting results. The run-off was held on Sunday after an inconclusive first round on 7 December.

Citing certified returns from 223 of the 230 national constituencies, Joy FM said the National Democratic Congress candidate had 50.64% against 49.36% for Nana Akufo-Addo of the ruling New Patriotic Party.

President John Kufuor leaves office in January after serving two terms, the constitutional limit.

In the first round, Mr Akufo-Addo, 64, finished with just over 49% - more than one percentage point ahead of Professor Mills, 64. But he failed to gain more than the 50% of votes needed to win.

The NPP lost its majority in parliament in the elections on 7 December.