ACCRA, Ghana, Dec. 5  -- The upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in Ghana will feature a number of close electoral races, public opinion polls indicate.

AllAfrica. com said Friday that, according to recent polls, the presidential race between ruling New Patriotic Party candidate Nana Akufo-Addo and John Atta Mills of the opposition National Democratic Congress appears to be very close.

Although a poll released this week indicated that 52 percent of respondents backed Akufo-Addo to 42 percent for Mills, a November poll had Mills slightly ahead.

In order to avoid a runoff election, a candidate for the presidency must earn at least 50 percent of the vote. (UPI)