Business activities halt as citizens wait for election results
Business activities in Ghana’s major towns of Kumasi and Tamale all in the northern part of the country and the capital Accra have come to a halt as tension appears to be rising following expectations of announcement of election results.
Reports reaching ghanabusinessnews.com say businesses were responding to news that was making the rounds informing shop owners and other businesses to close shop and head home as there are fears of possible violence breaking out when the winner of the December 28 run-off voting is announced. No one has been able to say exactly what the fears were based on.
The mounting tension is as a result of the two contending parties, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) accusing each other of one form of act to mar the integrity of the elections or the other.
Meanwhile, the very close election results so far released put the NDC candidate Prof. John Evans Atta Mills ahead of his opponent, Nana Akufo-Addo of the NPP.
Ghanaians and the international community including observers on the ground are waiting with baited breath for the declaration of the final results and the winner of the closely fought elections for a successor of President John Kufuor.
Meanwhile, opposition supporters have besieged the offices of the Electoral Commission (EC) in Accra compelling the police to fire warning shots to disperse them.
The Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan is expected to announce the final results and declare the winner before the close of day, December 30, 2008.
Local and international media, observers and political party observers are all waiting at conference room of the EC, expecting the announcement to be made.
By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi