Ghana Supreme Court upholds president John Mahama election win

Chief Justice Georgina Wood (right) watches as President John Mahama raises the staff of office after swearing an oath at the Independence Square, Accra on January 7. 2013. Ghana's Supreme Court upheld President Mahama's win in elections last year, dismissing the opposition's case alleging voter fraud August 29, 2013. AFP

What you need to know:

  • Top court dismisses the opposition's case alleging voter fraud.

ACCRA

Ghana's Supreme Court on Thursday upheld President John Dramani Mahama's win in elections last year, dismissing the opposition's case alleging voter fraud.

"The first respondent (Mahama) was validly elected and the petition is therefore dismissed," presiding judge William Atuguba said, reading from the verdict issued by the nine-justice panel.

The sometimes tense proceedings had been broadcast live on radio and television and were followed closely across the nation of 25 million people.

In the December polls, Ghana's electoral commission said Mahama took 50.7 per cent of the vote over NPP candidate Nana Akufo-Addo's 47.7 percent.

Observers called the vote fair.

But the NPP levelled an array of allegations, including that tally sheets had been doctored and ballot boxes stuffed, among other irregularities.

Some of the judges found merit in some of the NPPs allegations but as a group they declared Mahama's win legitimate.