Prime Minister Raila Odinga has hailed the free and fair presidential elections in Ghana.

Raila wished well the former Opposition leader John Atta Mills and National Democratic Congress (NDC) on his victory. He also praised Ghanaians for conducting peaceful polls.

"John Atta Mills victory and the conduct of the people of Ghana provides a rare example of democracy at work in Africa and provides the hope that the continent will not turn its back on the democratic gains attained painfully in the second wind of change in the 1990s," said the PM in a statement sent to newsrooms.

The PM also hailed the outgoing President John Kufuor for steadily steering the nation through he knife-edge and hard fought poll and for showing statesmanship. Kufuor had urged both candidates to respect the final result.

Raila urged the incoming and outgoing presidents to support the cause of democracy in Africa.

"I would wish to see Kufuor take up a greater role as an elder statesman in Africa and the world," he added.

Mills, winning his third bid for the presidency after losing twice to outgoing NPP President John Kufuor, was conciliatory. The poll raised tensions in the gold and cocoa exporting country.