Opposition leader wins Ghana presidency

Ghana’s Electoral Commission said opposition leader John Atta Mills has won the presidency of the West African nation.

Commission chairman Kwadwo Afari-Gyan said Mills narrowly won Sunday’s run-off by capturing 50.23%, or 4,521,032 votes, compared with 49.77%, or 4,480,446 votes, for ruling party candidate Nana Akufo-Addo.

Mr Afari-Gyan announced Mr Mills’ victory today, one day after a special re-vote was held in a single western district that was unable to vote in the second round. The make-up vote was held despite the ruling party’s call to boycott it.

Ghana is a rare example of democracy in a region of totalitarian states.