Hackers have targeted the website of Ghana's electoral commission as votes are being counted after the country held presidential elections on 7 December. The commission said the website, which was down for four hours, had now been reinstated, but it is blank.

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The hotly contested election saw President John Mahama running against the main opposition leader Nana Akufo-Addo.

The commission urged people to ignore what it called "fake results" that have been circulating online after the website was taken down.

Images showing Akufo-Addo leading with 54.78% of votes have appeared on Twitter.

"We deplore the attempt to hack the EC's [electoral commission's] website. Please respect the integrity and independence of the EC," the commission said in a Twitter post.

The election was peaceful, but one opposition supporter was killed at a rally that turned violent on Monday (5 December). Results are expected in the next two days.

Mahama has been in power since 2012, when he defeated Akufo-Addo by less than 300,000 votes. Earlier this week, the president said democracy "had matured" in his country.

"There is a general perception of corruption in all African countries. I think it is a stage of our development. As we continue to strengthen the institutions of state, I think that people will come to see the integrity in these institutions," he told AFP.

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