ACCRA, Ghana, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Opposition candidate John Atta Mills has won a close presidential runoff election in Ghana, electoral officials said Saturday.
The country's electoral commission stated that Atta Mills had posted a narrow win with 50.23 percent of the votes, while rival Nana Akufo-Addo garnered 49.77 percent, the BBC reported.
Both sides have alleged vote-rigging in the election, and the commission's head told the British broadcaster he had considered allegations by both sides before announcing the result.
The win for Atta Mills was announced after results from the final constituencies to cast ballots showed him extending his lead over Akufo-Addo. Outgoing President John Kufuor had earlier urged both candidates to respect the final result.
Atta Mills, 64, of the National Democratic Congress, is a former Ghanian vice-president. Akufo-Addo, also 64, of the ruling New Patriotic Party won the first round in the general election but not by enough to avoid the runoff, the BBC said.
