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| Opposition leader wins Ghana poll | Opposition leader wins Ghana poll |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Opposition candidate John Atta Mills has won a tight presidential run-off in Ghana, electoral officials have said. | Opposition candidate John Atta Mills has won a tight presidential run-off in Ghana, electoral officials have said. |
| The announcement came after results from the last constituency to vote showed him extending his lead over his rival, Nana Akufo-Addo. | The announcement came after results from the last constituency to vote showed him extending his lead over his rival, Nana Akufo-Addo. |
| Mr Akufo-Addo's ruling party boycotted Friday's vote, in Tain constituency. | Mr Akufo-Addo's ruling party boycotted Friday's vote, in Tain constituency. |
| Both sides have alleged vote-rigging in the poll. The run-off was closely watched as Ghana remains a rare example of democracy in West Africa. | Both sides have alleged vote-rigging in the poll. The run-off was closely watched as Ghana remains a rare example of democracy in West Africa. |
| Celebration | Celebration |
| The electoral commission said the results of the run-off showed Mr Atta Mills had won narrowly with 50.23% of the votes, against 49.77% for Mr Akufo-Addo. | The electoral commission said the results of the run-off showed Mr Atta Mills had won narrowly with 50.23% of the votes, against 49.77% for Mr Akufo-Addo. |
| Mr Akufo-Addo won the first round but not by enough to avoid the run-off | Mr Akufo-Addo won the first round but not by enough to avoid the run-off |
| "On the basis of the official results given, it is my duty to declare Professor John Evans Atta Mills the president-elect of the Republic of Ghana," the commission's head, Kwado Afari-Gyan, said in the capital, Accra. | "On the basis of the official results given, it is my duty to declare Professor John Evans Atta Mills the president-elect of the Republic of Ghana," the commission's head, Kwado Afari-Gyan, said in the capital, Accra. |
| He said the commission had considered allegations of vote-rigging by both sides but "did not find the evidence provided sufficient to invalidate the result". | He said the commission had considered allegations of vote-rigging by both sides but "did not find the evidence provided sufficient to invalidate the result". |
| Outgoing President John Kufuor earlier urged both candidates to respect the final result. | Outgoing President John Kufuor earlier urged both candidates to respect the final result. |
| He appealed for calm and said any complaints of vote-rigging should be dealt with by the courts after the new president is expected to be sworn in on Wednesday. I personally expect him to create more jobs as most of the people are jobless Yirisa, voter Voters give their views on result | He appealed for calm and said any complaints of vote-rigging should be dealt with by the courts after the new president is expected to be sworn in on Wednesday. I personally expect him to create more jobs as most of the people are jobless Yirisa, voter Voters give their views on result |
| There are scenes of jubilation at the headquarters of Mr Atta Mills' National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Accra, the BBC's Will Ross says. | There are scenes of jubilation at the headquarters of Mr Atta Mills' National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Accra, the BBC's Will Ross says. |
| Although Ghana remains a very divided nation when it comes to choosing a president, it has proved that democracy can work, our correspondent says. | |
| Mr Atta Mills, aged 64, is a former vice-president. He lost two previous elections to President Kufuor. | Mr Atta Mills, aged 64, is a former vice-president. He lost two previous elections to President Kufuor. |
| Mr Akufo-Addo, also 64, from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) won the first round of the presidential election but not by enough to avoid the run-off. | Mr Akufo-Addo, also 64, from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) won the first round of the presidential election but not by enough to avoid the run-off. |