Ghana opposition to challenge vote results in court

Ghana's main opposition party said Tuesday it planned to challenge presidential election results in court after it alleged a "pattern of fraud" in incumbent John Dramani Mahama's victory. "We are going to court," New Patriotic Party chairman Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey told reporters after a meeting of party officials, including its candidate Nana Akufo-Addo, who declined to comment. The decision comes with the country under pressure to maintain its reputation as a stable democracy in turbulent West Africa. Local election observers, citing their own findings, have said they support the results showing Mahama won. According to the electoral commission, Mahama won the election held over Friday and Saturday with 50.70 percent of the votes cast, compared with Akufo-Addo's 47.74 percent. The NPP alleged a "pattern of fraud" even before the official results were announced.