Britain applauds Ghana election

Britain congratulated Ghanaian President John Kufuor on Friday on his election victory, and praised the west African state for holding free, fair and transparent elections.

"The high turnout and overall transparency, fairness and freedom of the electoral processes are a tribute to Ghanaian democracy," Minister for Africa Chris Mullin said in a statement released by the Foreign Office.

"I would like to congratulate President Kufuor on his victory and look forward to working with him and his government to further develop the excellent relations that exist between our two countries," Mullin said.

Kufuor was officially declared the winner on Friday, with 52.75 percent of votes in the first round of the presidential election.

The incumbent's ruling New Patriotic Party also cemented its parliamentary majority in the vote that set a new record for electoral turnout in the country.

The Foreign Office said two British members of parliament, acting on behalf of a Commonwealth body, had observed the elections and backed Britain's praise for the Ghana's electoral process.