EC requires 15 billion cedis for run-off - Afari-Gyan

The Electoral Commission (EC) will require 15 billion cedis to hold the run-off of the presidential election between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, EC Chairman, told a press conference on Sunday that the run-off would be held within 21 days from the day of declaration and expressed the hope that money would be available for it.

"The exercise means doing it all over again," he said, adding: "the only change is that the ballot papers will show only Vice President Mills and Mr Kufuor.

"This means that all the other five candidates have been eliminated," Dr Afai-Gyan said.

Mr Kufuor gained 3,104,393 votes or 48.44 per cent while Professor Mills had 2,871,051 votes, or 44.8 per cent.

Dr Afari-Gyan said the run-off would be held within the stipulated period for a new government to be inaugurated on January 7 unless the courts say otherwise.

He said it is unlikely for the EC to allot time for campaign by the two parties before the run-off ballot, adding that it is a continuation of the election process.

Representatives of political parties, including Mr Dan Botwe, General Secretary of the NPP, and his counterpart from the NDC, Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, said that they had accepted the results and the call for a run-off.

The two parties said they would do better in the run-off than before and called on supporters to work hard.

"We've identified certain areas that we have faulted in and hope to adopt strategies to win this time round," Mr George Quaynor-Mettle, NDC Propaganda Secretary, said.

Mr Botwe said the NPP is certain of performing better in the run-off because "Ghanaians are just tired of NDC rule".