Tension High.Over Election Results

Dr Afari-Gyan Supporters of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in parts of Accra yesterday went on jubilations spree, with both sides claiming victory in Sunday's presidential run-off.

The expected results are creating tension with commercial activities near collapse as a result of the delay in releasing the results.

While the NDC, based on media estimates, had claimed its candidate, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, had won by some 75,000 votes, NPP sources claim Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had carried the day by a narrow margin.

By noon yesterday, supporters of the NDC took to the Ring Road Central, close to the party's headquarters at Kokomlemle in a jubilant mood, either doing the 'yeresisam' sign or teasingly doing the Kangaroo dance of their opponents; but the zeal seemed to have faded away later in the day when reports of some results from Ashanti region came to neutralise their pyrrhic victory.

Words went round the national capital that it was not over yet, and that the NPP was pulling last minute surprises.

NPP National Chairman, Peter Mac Manu assured supporters that the party was on victory course. “It's not over until everything is over,” he told journalists at a press conference in Accra yesterday.

By the time DAILY GUIDE got to the NPP Campaign Office, huge numbers of party faithful, all draped in calico, who claimed their party had been retained in power, had set the place agog with jubilation.

Supporters in and around Osu in Accra also popped champagne at the news of a possible NPP victory.

Visibly agitated at the trend of events, hundreds of NDC supporters besieged the Electoral Commission area, ostensibly to register their protest just as they did after the early voting in Kumasi.

The situation, however, went nasty when a group of NPP youth in two pick-ups were attacked at the EC vicinity by the NDC supporters, smashing the vehicles with huge stones.

The NDC youth were agitated, following allegations by Dr. Tony Aidoo that the NPP was manipulating the elections results.

The former Deputy Defense Minister nearly engaged Kwabena Agyepong in a fisticuffs at the EC's operations room, but for the timely intervention of the EC chairman, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan.

Before the incident, the National Election Security Task Force (NESTF) had reminded the general public that the Public Order Act (Act 491), which requires that organizers of public events should first inform the Police five days ahead of time, is still in force.

While commending the public for its support so far, it said it had put in place certain measures to maintain peace, law and order in the country after Sunday's presidential run-off.

This was contained in a release to the press in Accra yesterday.

“The police wishes to advise against lawlessness and acts of vandalism. We are therefore calling on the public to be calm and support the Police to maintain peace, law and order in the country,” said the release signed by the Director of Police Public Affairs, DSP Kwesi Ofori.

It said the Task Force and operational units would be deployed to assist in maintaining public order, and therefore requested motorists to cooperate with the police in the discharge of their duties.

The statement reminded all that the Electoral Commission (EC) headquarters is still a restricted zone and that access to all roads will be granted to emergency vehicles, those of the EC, security services and those of election stakeholders.

But when contacted, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, Nana Addo campaign manager, said even though he was optimistic of the NPP candidate victory, he would leave that to Dr. Afari-Gyan, EC Chairman, to do the official declaration.

“We are as solid as a rock, and we are sure of victory. The boys you see down there are jubilating because they are confident of the figures we have collated at the centre here. They are only waiting for the EC to give its announcement,” he said.

As at press time yesterday, four constituencies results were yet to be collated, but media figures were conclusive, with some virtually calling the results, and claiming Professor Mills had already won; but political analysts say the situation was too close to call.

DAILY GUIDE is reliably informed that most of the figures being churned out in the media and at some websites are not reliable.

All things being equal, the final results of Ghana's most keenly-contested elections could be declared today.  

By Bennett Akuaku