Opposition leader wins presidency in Ghana

By FRANCIS KOKUTSE
ACCRA, Ghana - Opposition leader John Atta Mills won Ghana's presidency, narrowly defeating his ruling party rival in a tense runoff, the election agency of this West African nation announced Saturday.

Mills won Sunday's runoff by capturing 50.23 percent of the vote _ or 4,521,032 ballots _ compared with 49.77 percent _ or 4,480,446 votes _ for ruling party candidate Nana Akufo-Addo, Electoral Commission chairman Kwadwo Afari-Gyan said.

A special revote Friday in a single western district secured Mills' victory. The region of Tain had been unable to vote in the second round because of a shortage of ballots, and the makeup vote _ which took place peacefully despite ruling party efforts to stop it _ became the deciding factor.

"I commend the two candidates for conducting themselves well," the election chief said.