Electoral fraud allegations are false - EC

The Chairman of Ghana's Electoral Commission (EC) says the New Patriotic Party can go to court to challenge results from Friday's poll since that is the only option available to them.

The main opposition NPP has stated that it is considering legal action to annul President John Dramani Mahama's victory in Friday's election.

The NPP says it has enough evidence to prove that the elections were rigged in favour of President-elect John Dramani Mahama.

According to EC's official figures, President Mahama secured 50.7% of votes while NPP's Nana Akufo-Addo had 47.7%.

But speaking in an interview with BBC's News Day, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan described NPP's allegations of electoral fraud as "completely false".

Mr. Afari-Gyan said the NPP has failed to offer proof to support its allegations adding that it could challenge the result in court if it wanted to.

"The electoral law makes provisions for appeals if you feel aggrieved, so far they [NPP] have made only allegations without any substantive evidence," Afari-Gyan said.

He added that "they can go to court, that is part of the electoral law, at this stage that is the only avenue open to them".

Dr. Afari-Gyan however admitted that the only problem that characterized Friday's poll was the breakdown of verification machines which was being used for the first time across the country.

< Meanwhile, the ECOWAS observer mission led by former Nigeria President Olesegun Obasanjo has declared the elections as free and fair.