Ghana police assure post-election security

Ghana police on Tuesday said they had put in an elaborate program to ensure peace and stability in the West African country to forestall any acts of violence following the Dec. 7 polls. Director of Public Affairs for the Ghana Police Service and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Cephas Arthur told journalists here the comprehensive operational program was to ensure peace before, during and after the country's presidential and parliamentary elections. "We have our men on the ground to ensure people do not take the law into their own hands," DSP Arthur said. Ghanaians went to the polls on Friday and Saturday to elect a president and a 275-member legislature. According to the Electoral Commission (EC), the presidential election was won by incumbent John Dramani Mahama with 50.70 percent of the total valid votes cast, while his closest challenger, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, obtained 47.7 percent of the votes. The main opposition party New Patriotic Party (NPP), just after the announcement of the election results by EC Chairman Kwadwo Afari-Gyan on Sunday, accused the ruling National Democratic Congress of rigging the election. Subsequently, the party rejected the outcome and stated its decision to head for the country's Supreme Court. Angry protestors of the NPP on Sunday evening gathered at the headquarters of the EC prior to its declaration of the results. On Tuesday, the supporters continued the same act at Obra Spot, a popular recreational area close to the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, to protest against the country's presidential results announced by the EC chairman.