Ghanas presidential election must be decided in a second-round vote, BBC online reports Wednesday.
Governing party candidate Nana Akufo-Addo won 49,13 per cent of the vote (4.159.439 votes), against 47,92 per cent (4.056.634 votes) for his rival, John Atta Mills, the electoral commission said.
But neither reached the 50 per cent threshold needed for an outright win and a run-off will be held on Sunday 28 December.
There were eight candidates in total to succeed President John Kufuor – who steps down in January having served the maximum two terms – but the election has been a two-horse race.
The ex-British colony and nation of 22 million people was the first African state to gain its independence in 1957. Regarded by investors as one of Africas most promising emerging markets, it is the worlds second biggest cocoa grower and Africas number two gold miner.
