Ghana leader appeals to rivals for unity before inauguration

Ghana's president called for political unity on Friday, reaching out to rivals who are contesting his election due to suspicions of vote rigging.

John Dramani Mahama, a former vice president who took office in July after the death of President John Atta Mills, won a December 7 electionand is due to be sworn in on Monday along with a new parliament.

"For the long-term survival of our nation, we must agree and commit to a multi-partisan process," Mahama said in a speech to parliament. "Whatever our differences, whatever our politics, we must pull together and rise to meet these challenges."

International and local election observers said the December election - in which Mahama won 50.7 percent of the votes - was free and fair despite delays and technical problems that forced voting into a second day.

Ghana's main opposition party launched a legal challenge on December 28, saying the poll involved enough irregularities to affect the outcome.