NSAWKAW, Ghana — Ghana’s leader appealed for calm and urged his people to accept the results of a tight presidential election as voters in a single district cast ballots Friday that could decide the West African nation’s next president.
The ruling-party candidate, however, said the race was not over and his party would challenge the results in court.
Residents of the tiny western district of Tain were unable to take part in last Sunday’s nationwide runoff because not enough ballots were distributed. A makeup vote was held there peacefully Friday, despite the ruling party’s attempts to stop it.
“What we need to have is peace,” farmer Kwadwo Fordjour said as he waited to vote in Nsawkaw.
Election results from all other districts show opposition leader John Atta Mills ahead of his ruling-party rival Nana Akufo-Addo by about 23,000 votes out of more than 9 million cast.
About 53,000 people are registered to vote in Tain, so ballots there could decide the election. During the Dec. 7 first round, Atta Mills narrowly won the district.
Voting ended in Tain peacefully, and electoral officials began counting ballots immediately afterward. State radio said results would be announced Saturday.
Tensions ran high last week and both sides have claimed irregularities in other districts, challenges that may be brought to court.
President John Kufuor said it was “important to meet the constitutional timetable” for handing power over Wednesday to his yet-to-be named successor.
“I therefore urge all the stakeholders to yield to the authority of the electoral commissioner when he declares the results. Any outstanding issues may be settled by due process later,” Kufuor said.
