Ghana’s 2008 elections could be decided by the results of the yet to be held elections in the Tain constituency of the Brong Ahafo region. The elections would be held on January 2, 2009.
Announcing the results of 229 constituencies out of the 230, at a press conference Tuesday December 30, 2008, the Electoral Commissioner (EC), Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan said the results of the election are so close that the results of the Tain constituency could decide who the winner is.
According to the EC, they were unable to hold elections in the Tain constituency “due to circumstances beyond our control.”
Prof. John Evans Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) polled 4,501,466 votes representing 50.13% of valid votes cast and Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) garnered 4,478,411 representing 49.87% of valid votes cast.
Prof. Mills leads with 23,055 votes.
He said “the results are so close that the result of the Tain constituency could affect the eventual winner and so we have decided that the elections for the Tain constituency would be held on Friday January 2, 2008.”
He was hopeful that the results from the constituency would help the EC decide the winner. There are 53,890 voters in the Tain constituency.
The EC, then declared Prof. Mills as the candidate in the lead.
Meanwhile, the EC said the NDC has made complaints about electoral malpractices in the Ashanti region, which it is investigating. The EC indicated also that the NPP has promised to submit evidence of electoral malpractices in the Volta region, which the EC has promised to investigate once they are submitted.
By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi