afrol News, 9 December - Preliminary election results indicate a total victory for Ghana's incumbent President John Agyekum Kufuor. So far, almost 55 percent of the counted votes are in favour of Mr Kufuor, which could mean that a second poll round will not become necessary. The numbers reflect unofficial results from 192 out of 230 constituencies in Ghana.

The fourth democratic multi-party poll in Ghana has again been organised in a peaceful and orderly manner, further consolidating the democracy and social peace in the country. Even in the Northern Region, where a state of the emergency and curfew ruled until recently, the elections in general were conducted peacefully. Only a few young troublemakers had however caused tension in some constituencies in Tamale.

The peaceful atmosphere however prevails as election results slowly are tickling in from Ghana's Electoral Commission. Local television stations have so far broadcasted the most comprehensive results, indicating a victory for the incumbent President.

President Kufuor is reported to have received over 4 million votes of the 7.4 million votes counted so far. This represents 54.9 percent of the votes from 192 out of 230 constituencies in Ghana. All of these results have however not been verified by the Electoral Commission.

Voter turnout has yet to be established, but observed to have been very high as Ghanaians went to choose a new President and parliament on Tuesday. Some 10.3 million Ghanaians were included in the electoral roll, and preliminary results already account for 7.4 million votes. Turnout is therefore likely to have been at over 80 percent.

President Kufuor looks set to win these elections in the first poll round, if the preliminary results are to be believed in. His main challenger, John Evans Atta Mills from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), so far has obtained 3.1 million votes, representing about 42.5 percent of votes counted so far.

If the preliminary results stand, a second poll round will not have to be organised. President Kufuor only was elected in the second poll round as he came to power in the 2000 elections. Also than, his principal opposing candidate was Mr Evans Atta, who had been appointed by ex-military ruler Jerry Rawlings to take over the NDC leadership.

Mr Evans Atta's proximity to ex-President Rawlings seems to have cost him both the 2000 and the 2004 elections. President Kufuor, on the other hand, has grown in popularity due to his strong dedication to democratic values and human rights. Political stability and internal peace have also led to a strong economic development of Ghana during Mr Kufuor's first presidential term, although the poor majority of Ghanaians have seen few advances.

Candidate Atta Mills thus has tried to focus his campaign on healthcare, unemployment and agriculture, the three top priorities of Ghanaians according to surveys. The NDC candidate's campaign has however been overshadowed by ex-President Rawlings and his attempts to "help" Mr Atta Mills with strong attacks on the person of Mr Kufuor.

In the parliamentary election, which is run at the same time, Ghanaians are to elect 230 parliamentarians among the total of almost 1000 candidates. Also here, President Kufuor's ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) stands the best chance of winning a majority, while the NDC is expected to become the second largest parliamentary group.

International election observers so far have made a positive assessment of the Ghanaian poll. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Elections Monitoring Team today said that the "election was peaceful, well organised and the electorate as well as the officials conducted themselves in such a manner that is commendable," according to reports by the Ghanaian news agency GNA.

By staff writers

© afrol News

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