voa标准英语2008-Tight Ghana Presidential Goes to Runoff

In Ghana, the candidate of the governing party received the most votes in the first round of Sunday's presidential election, but failed to win a 50 percent majority of the vote. As a result, there will be a runoff election later this month.
　

Ghana's opposition1 party candidate John Atta Mills (l) and Ruling party presidential candidate Nana Akufo-Addo in Accra, 09 Dec 2008

Ghana's Electoral Commission announced the governing party's Nana Akufo-Addo received 49 percent of the vote while the opposition's John Atta-Mills received 47 percent.

Because neither candidate received a 50 percent majority, the two veteran politicians will face each other in a runoff election in three weeks.

It was one of the closest presidential races in the country's 50-year history and was closely followed by Ghanaians on radio and television.

Akufo-Addo campaigned on continuity, promising² to continue the cautious, pro-economic growth policies of outgoing President John Kuffuor and his New Patriotic³ Party.

Professor Vladimir Antwi-Danso of the Legon Center for International Affairs, says the elections showed Ghanaian politics are maturing.

"The electorate⁴ is becoming a little bit more discerning," he said. "But it looks as though while the incumbent⁵ was riding on their [party's] achievements, the opposition tried to show that the achievements were not reflected in the pockets of the individual."

He says the governing party suffered some loss of support due to the rise in prices for food and petroleum⁶ and shortages of electrical power and water.

As a result, it no longer dominates the parliament.

Antwi-Danso says Ghana's next president will have to build alliances with smaller parties in order to pass legislation. "It looks like a hung parliament for the future. I believe it is good for our democracy because parliament will have to be built on consensus⁷, and is good for democracy," he said.

Antwi-Danso says one unfortunate aspect of the election was that some candidates made ambitious promises that will be difficult to fulfill⁸ without abandoning the prudent⁹ economic polices of the outgoing government.

"In our young democracies, what happens is appeals to people's stomachs, pockets, become more appealing," he said. "But then those promises cannot be fulfilled."

He notes that Ghana recently negotiated a reduction of its foreign debt by more than half. And the discovery of important off-shore oil reserves is expected to provide new revenues to the government in two years.

But experts caution that only solid economic growth can bring the sustained revenues needed to improve social programs. And they say vigilance must be maintained that the revenue windfall is not diverted into the pockets of corrupt¹⁰ officials.

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

3 patriotic   

adj.爱国的，有爱国心的

参考例句：

• His speech was full of patriotic sentiments.他的演说充满了爱国之情。
• The old man is a patriotic overseas Chinese.这位老人是一位爱国华侨。

4 electorate   

n.全体选民；选区

参考例句：

• The government was responsible to the electorate.政府对全体选民负责。
• He has the backing of almost a quarter of the electorate.他得到了几乎1/4选民的支持。

5 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

6 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

7 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

8 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

9 prudent   

adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的

参考例句：

• A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
• You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。

10 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。