Presidential quest begins: 24 Vie for highest office
Twelve presidential aspirants standing on the ticket of political parties and 12 others who are standing as independent entities have filed their nominations with the Electoral Commission (EC) to contest the presidential slot in the December 7 general election.
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Although 39 people picked up passcodes to enable them to fill and file the presidential nomination forms, the 24 submitted the completed forms as of the close of business last Friday.
The list, however, includes two aspirants who submitted the forms after the stipulated 5 p.m. deadline, and their fate will be decided by the EC.
Candidates
Those who filed forms on party tickets are Dr Mahamudu Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party (NPP); former President John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC); Kofi Akpaloo of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), Rev. Christian Kwabena Andrews of the Ghana Union Movement (GUM) and Hassan Abdulai Ayariga of the All People’s Congress (APC).
Others are Mohammed Frimpong of the National Democratic Party (NDP); Akua Donkor of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP); Nana Akosua Frimpomaa Sarpong-Kumankumah of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and Janet Asana Nabla of the People’s National Party (PNP).
The others are Bernard Mornah of the People’s National Convention (PNC); Daniel Augustus Lartey of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), and Kofi Asamoah Siaw of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP).
The independent candidates are Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen; Nana Kwame Bediako; Samuel Apea-Danquah; George Twum Barimah-Adu and Kofi Koranteng.
The rest are Desmond Abrefah; Nana Stephens Adjepong; Paul Perkoh; James Kwesi Oppong; John Enyonam Kwakwu Kpikpi; Dr Samuel Sampong Ankrah as well as Nii Amu Darko.
Context
The Electoral Commission (EC) opened the filing of nominations from Monday, September 9 to Friday, September 13, 2024.
The EC is currently vetting the applicants to confirm if those who submitted the forms have met the legal criteria.
Per the electoral calendar published by the EC, the balloting for positions on the ballot paper is scheduled for Monday, September 23, this year for the Presidential Election and Tuesday, September 24, 2024 for the Parliamentary Election.
Day one
The eight presidential aspirants filed their nominations on the first day of the exercise. They are Vice-President Bawumia; former President Mahama, whose nominations was filed on his behalf by the National Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah; Mr Ayariga, Rev. Andrews, and Mr Akpaloo.
The rest for the day were Mr Bediako, Mr Apea-Danquah, and Mr Twum-Barima-Adu.
Apart from former President Mahama and Rev. Andrews, all the other aspirants were accompanied by leading party members or close allies.
Day 2
Those who filed on the second day of the exercise were Mr Kyerematen, Alhaji Frimpong and Mr Koranteng.
Final day
Those who filed on the final day were Desmond Kwame Abrefa, Nana Stevens Agyepong, Mr Mornah, Dr Augustus Lartey Jnr, Dr Paul Perkoh, James Kwasi Oppong, Dr Sam Ankrah, and Dr George Enyonam Kpikpi.
After deadline
Although a substantial number of candidates were able to submit their forms before the stipulated time, others such as the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) and the African Reform Movement (ARM) failed to submit within the stipulated timeframe.
The EC’s Deputy Commissioner in charge of Operations, Samuel Tettey, after receiving the forms submitted after the stipulated time, said he would submit them for scrutiny and deliver the outcome later.
“This event ends after 5 p.m. so we are not supposed to receive forms after 5 p.m. The premises of the EC is not where you complete your forms, you rather come here to submit a completed form, so we will receive it and I will submit a report to the chairperson,” Mr Tettey said.
Dr Agnes Ayisha of the Liberation of National Youth for Change was turned down after failing to complete her forms and requested for more time to complete them.
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She said the forms were cumbersome and required enough time to complete.
Mr Tettey, however, said the EC would hold a discussion in camera with her and her team and draw a conclusion.
Messages from aspirants
After filing the forms, Dr Bawumia called for prayers and support for the EC to enable the electoral body to deliver on its mandate, saying the job of the EC was a difficult one.
Speaking to the media after the submission on behalf of former President Mahama, Mr Nketia said the party had serious issues concerning the credibility of the 2024 voters register, and insisted that only a forensic audit of the register could help to address the concerns of the party.
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Mr Ayariga charged all the other candidates to have trust in the EC to do the right thing to ensure an election of the people’s choice to steer the affairs of the country.
The General Secretary of GUM, Anthony Gold Ahinful, who represented the leader of the party, said the movement expected free, fair and transparent elections.
The leader of the New Force, Nana Bediako, thanked the EC for the work it had done over the years in the conduct of elections.
Mr Akpaloo called on Ghanaians to rally behind him and the LPG for victory in the elections.
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Mr Kyerematen commended the EC for the good work done so far against the backdrop of the enormity of the task confronting it.
Alhaji Frimpong, for his part, said the NDP would ensure that Ghana remained cohesive, peaceful and stable while Mr Koranteng prayed that the vetting process would be fair and transparent.
One of the new entrants, Mr Abrefa, who is also a pastor, challenged Ghanaians to vote for a God-fearing candidate to transform the country.
Nana Agyepong, a businessman, urged the EC to ensure that the results that would be declared should reflect the will of the people.
Mr Mornah expressed the hope that Ghana and Africa would not suffer political upheaval, saying, "We will not add to the number, we will make a difference."
Dr Lartey Jnr, a certified stockbroker in the United Kingdom, after submitting his forms, said he would make agriculture and technology the foundational pillars to transform the economy.
EC chair
The EC Chairperson, Jean Adukwei Mensa, and her deputy commissioners were frank and open to the candidates, assuring them of a transparent and equal treatment for all.
The EC Chairperson said two teams had been set up to work on the documents almost immediately and revert for the candidates to know their fates.