The presidential election which took place on December 7, 2008, did not produce a winner.
Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) won 49.13 per cent of the total valid votes cast, while John Evans Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) won 47.92 per cent.
The election law in Ghana, however, states that a candidate must have at least 50 per cent of the total valid votes cast to be declared the winner.
A run-off election, which is being held today, December 28, is between the top two candidates. This was announced by the Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, on December 10, after he announced the results of the December 7 election.
The NPP has accused the NDC party of "planning to engage in massive fraud during today's elections." Atta Mills of the NDC has said that his party has in recent days discovered "startling revelations and confessions about poll fraud."
The outgoing president, John Kufour, has appealed to the people of Ghana to maintain peace. He said, "I am appealing to all Ghanaians... we should all keep cool, go and vote, as a peaceful exercise, as a legitimate exercise."