Accra, Dec. 9, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor is set to win the elections with about 53 per cent of the total votes cast, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, National Campaign Manager of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), said at a news conference on Thursday. The projection, he said, was determined by the certified results of 227 constituencies made available to the Party by the Electoral Commission (EC). The NPP has reportedly won over 130 Parliamentary Seats.

He commended Mr George Aguddey, Presidential Candidate of Convention people's Party (CPP) and Dr Edward Mahama, Presidential Candidate of People's National Convention (PNC) for calling President Kufuor to congratulate him on his victory.

Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey made it clear that he was not announcing the results of the Presidential Election, since that was the constitutional responsibility of the Electoral Commission. He said he was sharing the good news of NPP's victory to end the anxiety that had built up in Ghanaians because of the long delay in the official declaration of the results by the EC.

Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey named the three outstanding constituencies as Tolon, Tatale and Yapei Kusawgu, all in the Northern Region. He explained that even if the total votes of the three constituencies were added to that of the NDC's the situation would not change the fortunes of the NPP.

"From about 1400 hours the good people of Ghana have been waiting for the EC to declare the results of Tuesday's elections and we believe we must share our good news with the 53 per cent of the electorate, who voted for President Kufuor," he stressed. "This is not a declaration because we know that it is only the EC, which can declare the results."

Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey described the success of NPP as a 'ringing endorsement' of President Kufuor across the country, saying the NPP improved on its vote gains in every constituency and every region as compared to its wins in the 2000 Elections.

Asked about the national Democratic Congress' (NDC) request to the EC to recount the invalid votes, Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey described the request as spurious and meant to cause delay and muddy the waters. He said such a request could only have been made at the polling station, according to some legal opinions but added that the NDC could, however, challenge the issue at the law courts and stressed that NPP, which was a firm believer in the rule of law, would contest them squarely in that arena.

Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey appealed to Professor John Evans Atta Mills, NDC Presidential Candidate to come to terms with verdict of Ghanaians and concede to President Kufuor as he did in 2000. The Campaign Manager, however, said he was optimistic that the EC would declare the results by Friday morning to give Ghanaians a refreshing weekend. "The President would surely wake up tomorrow morning, hale and hearty to continue with Positive Change Chapter Two, which is sure to bring increased growth and real prosperity," he said.

Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Papa Owusu-Ankomah, Attorney General and Minster of Justice, Mr Kwamena Bartels, Minister of Private Sector Development and some members of the campaign team flanked Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey.