John Mahama, Ghana’s opposition candidate in the presidential election, on Thursday, rejected as fraudulent the result of the poll in which President Nana Akufo-Addo won a second term in office.
On Wednesday, the country’s electoral umpire said that incumbent Akufo-Addo had garnered 51.59 percent of the vote on Monday, ahead of rival Mahama with 47.36 percent.
Mahama has rejected the result.
The opposition candidate during a press conference said, “I stand before you tonight unwilling to accept the fictionalised results of a flawed election,”.
“We will take all legitimate steps to reverse this tragedy of justice.”
The 62-year-old claimed that “numerous steps have been taken to manipulate the results of the election in favour of the incumbent.”
The keenly contested election has led to tensions between the two prominent parties, with Mahama alleging abuse of power by the president.
“Armed forces featured heavily as an intimidating measure to reverse election results,” Mahama said and called on the international community “to remain engaged in what is happening in Ghana and to take careful note of the current threat that is being waged to our democracy.”
Provisional results by the electoral commission show that Akufo-Addo’s New Patriotic Party won 137 seats in parliament, while Mahama’s National Democratic Congress won 136.
Although the full results of the parliamentary elections are yet to be announced, the opposition leader claimed his party had secured 140 seats.
The latest election marked the third election both candidates squared off for the top position in Ghana, with Akufo-Addo winning the contest twice.
The president-elect in his victory speech on Wednesday said it was time “irrespective of political affiliations, to unite, join hands and stand shoulder to shoulder.”