Five killed in Ghana election violence

 

At least five people were killed in the violence that broke out during the December 7 election in Ghana.

The police confirmed the incident, saying over 60 violence-related incidents have been recorded since election day.

 

“Twenty-one of the incidents are true cases of electoral violence, six of which involve gunshots resulting in the death of five,” the police said.

 

Tensions are high over a tightly contested presidential race between President Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and John Mahama, presidential candidate of National Democratic Congress (NDC)–even though there are 10 other candidates.

 

Mahama, a former president, had accused Akufo-Addo of using the military to intimidate voters and overturn the election in his (Akufo-Addo’s) favour.

 

Both men have claimed that provisional results show that they won the election.

 

The development comes after independent observers congratulated Ghana for conducting largely peaceful polls.