President-elect John Atta-Mills appealed Sunday for wisdom to lead Ghanaians, a day after winning a presidential poll deemed exemplary by African standards.

"I ask for nothing from God, what I ask for is wisdom to lead the people. The people have voted for change in direction," he told hundreds of Christians at Pure Fire church in the capital where he attended service.

Clergymen in their sermons, some of which were broadcast live on radio, praised their congregations for having shown political maturity. They urged them to rally behind the new government so Ghana could remain an example for other countries on the continent.

Atta-Mills, who won the election in the second round by a very slim margin of just 40,000 votes out of a total of some 9 million ballots cast, was accompanied to the service by a handful of party officials and security personnel.

Sources close to Mills said he has already put together a transitional team to oversee the handover of power from the outgoing administration of President John Kufuor, one of Africa's most respected leaders, who is bowing out after his two terms in office.

No details of the new team were given.

The handover from Kufuor to Mills will take place January 7.

African leaders lavished praise on the peaceful conduct of the poll.

"This fifth multiparty democratic election .. bears testimony to the respect for democracy and good governance in Africa," said South African President Kgalema Motlanthe.

The people of Ghana "have, through the ballot paper, showed their appreciation for democracy," he said.

South Africa's elections planned for later this year, likely March, are expected to be tense given a recent rift within the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

Raila Odinga, the prime minister of Kenya, an east African nation that was torn apart by ethnic violence one year ago after President Mwai Kibaki won contested elections, also praised the Ghana polls.

"John Atta-Mills' victory and the conduct of the people of Ghana provides a rare example of democracy at work in Africa," Odinga said in a statement.

He also thanked Kufuor for "showing statesmanship that saw him urge both candidates to respect the final result."

The scenes of jubilation following the announcement of Atta-Mills' victory had died away by Sunday. By late afternoon, TV and radio had stopped talking about the poll and turned back to their usual fare of football commentary and religious programmes.