Only four presidential candidates qualify for Election 2016

Enoch Darfah Frimpong Oct - 10 - 2016 , 15:58 19 minutes read

Only four presidential aspirants have qualified to contest Election 2016. They are Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Dramani Mahama of National Democratic Congress (NDC), Ivor Kobina Greenstreet of the Convention Peoples Congress (CPP) and Jacob Osei Yeboah (JOY), an independent candidate.

Akwasi Addae Odike of the United Progressive Party (UPP) has been given up to Friday October 14, 2016 to sort out a court case with his political party executives who are challenging his nomination as their flag bearer before the EC will consider his candidature.

Out of the total 17 aspirants who submitted their nomination forms to be considered as presidential candidates, the commission has disqualified 12 of them on grounds of not meeting the requirements.

They Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom of PPP, Mr Hassan Ayariga of APC, Dr Edward Nasigri Mahama of PNC, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings of NDP and Mr Kofi Apaloo of IPP.

Others are Mr T.N. Ward Brew of DPP, Mr Henry Lartey of GCPP, Richard Tetteh of USDP, Akua Donkor of GFP, Nana Agyenim Boateng of UFP and Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings of NDP.

Some of the subscribers of the presidential aspirants did not meet the requirements of the EC. Some also sponsored more than one candidate with same names and voter registration details.

According to the EC they only changed their signatures.

Some aspirants did not properly sign their nomination forms, others did not do their statutory declaration properly, did not present the correct amount for filing fees and others had less than the required number of voters signing their nomination forms,

Addressing a press conference on Monday in Accra, the EC Chair, Mrs Charlottte Osei indicated the matter would be referred to the Attorney General for investigations and prosecution.

“In the event that a voter endorses more than one candidate, it disqualifies that candidate,” Mrs Osei said.

Other reasons assigned by the commission for disqualifying the aspirants of selecting vice presidential candidates who do not meet constitutional requirements, not providing proper details of registered voters in the districts as their sponsors,

Mrs Osei said letters have since been sent to all the candidates affected.

APC's Hassan Ayariga

The EC explained that Mr Hassan Ayariga of the APC was disqualified because he did not provide evidence of his declaration and his residence in his constituency specified by law.

"Similarly two of Mr Ayariga's subscribers also subscribed for another presidential candidate in breach of regulations 74 in C.I. 94."

This means that after disqualifying those two subscribers, Mr Ayariga did not get the number of total subscribers required.

On the forms, the EC observed that the signatures of the two voters were different on the forms of the other presidential candidate even though their voter details were the same and therefore raises questions on the legitimacy of the signatures.

"The commission will therefore refer the matter on possible forgery of the signatures to the Ghana Police Service and Attorney General for investigations and prosecution. We will like to point out that making a force declaration in statutory declaration is a criminal offence, making a false declaration on forms for office is criminal offence, so it is perjury

PNC’s Dr Mahama

The People’s National Convention’s flag bearer, Dr Edward Nasigri Mahama on his part was disqualified because many subscribers of his candidature did not properly sign the nomination forms.

According to the EC, “thumbprints, signatures and marks were put together. For instance on pages 16, 24 and 28 there were no signatures”, the chair of the EC, Mrs Charlotte Osei explained.

“Two subscribers to Dr Mahama’s nomination also subscribed for another candidate, Hassan Ayariga of the APC. These are Adjei Issifu and Abudu Ayuba,” the EC chair said.

The EC explained that the signatures on Dr Mahama’s forms were different from those on Aryariga’s forms and raised questions on the legitimacy of the signatures.

According to the EC the matter would therefore be referred to the Ghana Police Service and the Attorney General for investigations and prosecution on grounds of forgery.

Another reason for rejecting Dr Mahama’s nomination was that for a large majority of subscribers, the signatory portion of the forms was ticked rather than a signature, a mark or a thumbprint.

“It is important to point out that in law a simple tick does not satisfy the requirements of the law where a mark is made in lieu of a signature or a thumbprint,” she said.

The EC therefore concluded that Dr Mahama did not have the requisite number of subscribers required under regulations stipulated under C.I. 94

PPP's Nduom

In 2012 Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom of the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) emerged as the third best candidate in the general elections.

In 2016 however, neither his photo or the party's logo may be on the presidential ballot paper because one of his subscribers, Richard Aseda from the Volta region has 'killed' his ambition.

According to the Electoral Commission (EC), it has disqualified Dr Nduom from the 2016 presidential elections because he was unable to raise the required number of subscribers to support his nomination.

The EC explained that many of his subscribers did not know regulations 7.2 of C.I. 74.

The details are that one subscriber Mr Richard Aseda with voter ID number 7812003957 endorsed Dr Nduom’s forms in the Central region and again endorsed the same form with the same ID number in the Volta region.

Mrs Charlotte Osei, explained that the subscriber was found to be legitimately on the register in the Volta region and therefore disqualifies him from being able to subscribe in the Central region as well.

This therefore reduced the total number of subscribers for Dr Nduom as required by law.

The same subscriber Mr Richard Aseda, according to the EC also endorsed the form with different signatures and therefore raised questions of legitimacy of the signatures.

The EC chair, Mrs Charlotte Osei explained that the matter would be referred on grounds of possible forgery of signatures to the Ghana Police Service and Attorney General for investigations and prosecution in line with the Criminal Offences Act.

NDP's Konadu Agyemang Rawlings

Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings has been disqualified for the second time in her attempt to contest as a presidential candidate.

The Electoral Commission announced on Monday that it was unable to accept Mrs Rawlings’ nomination because the number of subscribers to her forms did not meet the requirements of Regulation 7 (2) (b) of C.I. 94.

According to the EC, one subscriber on page 89 of her nomination forms was not a validly registered voter and illegally registered twice and so was on the Exclusion list of multiple voters.

Addressing a press conference in Accra to explain why Nana Konadu’s National Democratic Party (NDP) cannot contest the 2016 presidential elections, the EC said one Salifu Abdulai from the Nanumba South District with Voter ID no: 6617004814 registered on March 28, 2012 but also registered on August 4, 2014 with Voter ID no: 2126900022 and therefore was disqualified.

Below are the different reasons for the disqualification of the aspirants

RECEIPT OF NOMINATIONS FOR 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Key criteria for presidential candidates

Forms must be signed by candidate
Forms must be signed by two registered voters in every district (432 valid endorsements required)
One voter cannot endorse more than one presidential candidate
Vice President nominee must be named and must meet constitutional requirements for the office of Vice President
Properly filled forms must be delivered to the Returning officer on or before the date appointed for receipt of nominations
Forms should be submitted in quadruplicates
Forms should include properly attested statutory declarations stating that candidate has provided accurate details to the Commission, has met all the requirements and is qualified for the office of President.
4 pictures in accordance with dimensions and specifications in the law
Payment of filing fees as determined by the Commission.

The Commission may disqualify a candidate if one of these requirements is not met. For instance:

The nomination form is not properly signed by the candidate;
The statutory declaration is not properly executed;
Filing fees not presented in requested mode or amount;
Less than two registered voters per district sign the nomination forms;
The nomination forms are not properly signed by all the subscribing voters;
The candidate or the designated vice president nominee does not meet the legal requirements of the nominated office.

Prior to the close of nominations on the 29th and 30th September, candidates whose nomination forms had obvious errors and who submitted early enough, were called by the officers of the Commission and given the opportunity to correct obvious errors or omissions on their nomination forms. The Law permits such corrections only within the nomination period hence our earlier call on candidates to submit as early as possible.

Following the receipt of nomination forms last week, and the payment of filing fees earlier today, the EC is now in a position to announce candidates whose nominations have been accepted by the Electoral Commission having met the afore stated requirements.

1. Hassan Ayariga – All Peoples’ Congress (APC)

The Commission is unable to accept Dr. Ayariga’s nomination for the following reason:

The candidate did not provide evidence on his statutory declaration as to his hometown or residence in the constituency as per the legal requirements.

Two subscribers to Dr. Ayariga’s nominations also subscribed for another presidential candidate. This is in breach of Regulation 7(4) of CI 94. The implication is that the two subscribers are disqualified and therefore, Dr. Ayariga does not have the requisite number of subscribers under Regulation 7(2) (b) of CI 94. The details of the duplicate subscribers are as follows:

Abaako Issifu (page 103)

Voter ID number 2988006876

PS code: J110202

Abudu Ayuba (page 95)

Voter ID number 6303005554

PS code: H200201

In addition, the signatures of both voters are different on the two nomination forms. This raises questions as to the legitimacy of those signatures.

We will refer the matter of the possible forgeries of these signatures to the Ghana Police Service and the Attorney General for investigation and prosecution in line with the following sections of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29):

Section 211: Perjury

Section 248: making false declaration etc. for office or voting;

Section 251: Deceiving a public officer

Section 256: Corruption, Intimidation and personation in respect of election

2. Edward Nasigri Mahama – PNC

The Commission is unable to accept Dr. Mahama’s nomination for the following reasons:

Many subscribers did not properly sign the forms. Thumbprints, signatures or marks were omitted all together. For instance, no signatures on Page 16, 24, 28.

Two subscribers to Dr. Mahama’s nominations also subscribed for another presidential candidate. These are:

Abaako Issifu (page 103)

Voter ID number 2988006876

PS code: J110202

Abudu Ayuba (page 95)

Voter ID number 6303005554

PS code: H200201

As stated earlier, the signatures of both voters are different on the two nomination forms. This raises questions as to the legitimacy of those signatures.

Section 211: Perjury

Section 248: making false declaration etc. for office or voting;

Section 251: Deceiving a public officer

Section 256: Corruption, Intimidation and personation in respect of election

For a large majority of subscribers, the signature portion was ticked rather than subscribed with a signature, thumb print or mark.

It is important to point out that a simple tick does not satisfy the requirements of the law for where a mark is made in lieu of a signature or thumb print.

A mark in law is “an X made by a person who is illiterate or too weak to sign his/her full name.” According to the Free Law Dictionary, “On the rare occasion that this occurs, the “X” should be within or next to2 `1 a notation” indicating the person’s name or formally witnessed by another person to make the mark valid. Accordingly, the Commission is unable to accept mere ticks, which have not been properly, witnessed as legitimate marks made by voters subscribing to Dr. Mahama’s forms.

In conclusion, Dr. Mahama does not have the requisite number of subscribers required under Regulation 7(2) (b) of CI 94 and his nomination cannot therefore be accepted.

3. Nana Agyenim Boateng – United Front Party

The Commission is unable to accept Dr. Boateng’s nomination because the number of his subscribers do not meet the minimum required under Regulation 7(2) (b) of CI 94.

The details are as follows:

One subscriber Amadu Babia Latifah with Voter ID number 3357006984, and Polling station K100401 supported the nomination of another candidate (page 110). This is in breach of Regulation 7 (4) of CI 94.

Further, the Subscriber has different signatures on both candidates’ nominations raising questions as to the legitimacy of the signature on both forms.

Three of Dr. Boateng’s subscribers supported the nomination of another candidate and again, with different signatures. This again is in breach of Regulation 7(4) of CI 94. Details are:

Alfred Yevuglo (page 35)

Voter ID no: 1270013632

Polling station code: D091201

Dagadu Raymond (page 35)

Voter ID no: 1270012857

Polling station code: D091201

Adu Thomas (page 67)

Voter ID no: 3703013114

Polling station code: F310202

Section 211: Perjury

Section 248: making false declaration etc. for office or voting;

Section 251: Deceiving a public officer

Section 256: Corruption, Intimidation and personation in respect of election

4. Kofi Akpaloo- Independent People’s Party

The Commission is unable to accept Mr. Akpaloo’s nomination because the number of subscribers to Mr. Akpaloo’s forms did not meet the requirements of Regulation 7 (2) (b) of CI 94. The details are as follows:

Three subscribers supported the nomination of another candidate in breach of Regulation 7 (4) of CI 94. Again, the cross subscribers have different signatures on the nomination forms raising questions as to the legitimacy of these signatures.

These are:

Alfred Yevuglo (page 35)

Voter ID no: 1270013632

Polling station code: D091201

Dagadu Raymond (page 35)

Voter ID no: 1270012857

Polling station code: D091201

Adu Thomas (page 67)

Voter ID no: 3703013114

Polling station code: F310202

Section 211: Perjury

Section 248: making false declaration etc. for office or voting;

Section 251: Deceiving a public officer

Section 256: Corruption, Intimidation and personation in respect of election.

5. Kwabena Adjei- Reform Patriotic Democrat

The Commission is unable to accept Mr. Adjei’s nomination because the number of subscribers to his forms did not meet the requirements of Regulation 7 (2) (b) of CI 94. The details are as follows:

Two subscribers to Mr. Adjei’s forms are not registered voters as they are on the Exclusion List for multiple registrations. Details are:

Stephen Owusu (2012/2014) with voter IDs 2643005586 & 1490019583

Fusheini Mariama/ Abdulai Mariama (4.2012/3. 2012) with voter IDs 2643005586 & 1490019583

We also call on the Ghana Police Service to investigate the named individuals for the electoral offence.

6. Papa Kwesi Nduom – Progressive People’s Party (PPP)

The Commission is unable to accept Dr. Nduom’s nomination because the number of subscribers to his forms did not meet the requirements of Regulation 7 (2) (b) of CI 94. The details are as follows:

One subscriber Richard Aseda (‘Asida’ on the Voters’ Register), with Voter ID no 7812003957) endorsed the forms in two different districts (pages 21 and 39).

The subscriber was found to be on the Voter’s Register in one district thereby disqualifying his second subscription and reducing the total number of subscribers to below the minimum required by the Law.

The same subscriber (Richard Aseda (‘Asida’) endorsed the form with different signatures in both portions of the nomination form. This raises questions as to the legitimacy of one or both signatures.

We will refer the matter of the possible forgery of the signature(s) to the Ghana Police Service and the Attorney General for investigation and prosecution in line with the following sections of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29):

Section 211: Perjury

Section 248: making false declaration etc. for office or voting;

Section 251: Deceiving a public officer

Section 256: Corruption, Intimidation and personation in respect of election.

7. Dr. Henry Herbert Lartey – Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP)

The Commission is unable to accept Dr. Lartey’s nomination because the number of subscribers to his forms did not meet the requirements of Regulation 7 (2) (b) of CI 94. The details are as follows:

Pages 18 – 22 do not contain the signatures of subscribers as required by Law

Pages 14 – 17: Subscriptions are undated

The Personal records of the Vice Presidential candidate have not been provided.

One subscriber – Amadu Babia Latifah. With Voter ID number 3357006984 & Polling station K100401 (page 110) also supported the nomination of another candidate. This disqualifies both candidates endorsed by the said voter.

Further, the said subscriber has different signatures on both candidates’ nominations raising questions as to the legitimacy of both signatures.

Section 211: Perjury

Section 248: making false declaration etc. for office or voting;

Section 251: Deceiving a public officer

Section 256: Corruption, Intimidation and personation in respect of election.

8. Richard Nixon Tetteh – United Development Systems Party

The Commission is unable to accept Mr. Tetteh’s nomination because the number of subscribers to his forms did not meet the requirements of Regulation 7 (2) (b) of CI 94.

The nomination forms were improperly filled and almost all subscribers to Mr. Tetteh’s forms have invalid voter ID numbers.

The candidate did not also pay the filing fee within the stipulated timeline.

9. Mrs. Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings – National Democratic Party

The Commission is unable to accept Mrs. Rawlings’ nomination because the number of subscribers to her forms did not meet the requirements of Regulation 7 (2) (b) of CI 94.

One subscriber on page 89 of her nomination forms is not a validly registered voter and illegally registered twice and so is on the Exclusion list of multiple voters. Details are:

Salifu Abdulai

District: Nanumba South

Voter ID no: 6617004814 (28.3.2012)

Voter ID no: 2126900022 (04.8.2014).

10. Thomas Nuako Ward-Brew – Democratic People’s Party

The Commission is unable to accept Mr. Ward-Brew’s nomination for the following reasons:

His forms were improperly completed and Candidate’s particulars were not provided (page 1). The candidate did not provide his voter ID number and the Commission is unable to ascertain whether the candidate is a registered voter and therefore eligible for the office of President.

The Statutory Declaration by the candidate is not signed and candidate’s details missing from statutory declaration (pages 112 and 113). However, the same statutory declaration has been signed by the Commissioner of oaths. This is illegal and unethical.

The Signature of the Vice presidential candidate is missing (page 112)

The Voter ID number of the Vice Presidential candidate has not been provided and so the Commission is unable to ascertain whether the Vice Presidential candidate is a registered voter and eligible to stand as a candidate for that office.

The number of subscribers to Mr. Ward-Brew’s forms did not meet the requirements of Regulation 7 (2) (b) of CI 94.

There are no signatures for subscribers (pages 69, 70 and 71)

Signatures of two subscribers (Isaac Dusi & Kofi Kuma) are identical (pages 55 and 56) and this raises questions about the legitimacy of the two signatures.

The same subscriber – Kumbung Dosetu endorsed the nomination forms in two different districts (Lawra and Nandom) with two different signatures (page 109) raising issues again on the legitimacy of both signatures.

Two subscribers subscribed in both Dormaa Municipal & Dormaa West districts (page 76)

Details as follows-

Yaa Yeboaa

Voter ID no; 3462001504

Anthony Boamah

Voter ID no: 3462002159

There are undated endorsements on pages 48, 50, 55 , 56 and 61

Missing residential addresses, page 33

Page 10: Thumbprints for even headmasters and teachers and Researchers and pastors (page 74).

vii. The candidate did not also pay the filing fee within the stipulated timeline.

Section 211: Perjury

Section 248: making false declaration etc. for office or voting;

Section 251: Deceiving a public officer

Section 256: Corruption, Intimidation and personation in respect of election.

11. Alfred Kwame Asiedu Walker – Independent candidate

The Commission is unable to accept Mr. Walker’s nomination for the following reasons:

Walker’s forms were improperly filled and contained several irregularities.

There are invalid endorsements and signatures of subscribers are missing from pages 82-84, 99, 100.

Personal records of Vice Presidential candidate were not provided (page 112)

The Candidate’s Statutory Declaration was not completed and not signed by the candidate.

The Candidate’s Voter ID number and Polling station were details not provided

The Voter ID details and polling station for vice presidential candidate were not provided. Therefore the Commission was unable to confirm the eligibility of the nominee vice president for the office.

The Consent to nomination was not signed by both Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates.

The Vice presidential candidate did not sign his personal record form.

12. Akua Donkor – Ghana Freedom Party

The Commission is unable to accept Madam Donkor’s nomination for the following reasons:

Her form was improperly filled.

The Consent to candidacy by the candidate and Vice president nominee were not signed.

Residential addresses and polling station details of several subscribers were not provided (pages 68, 79, 80, 81,82, 83, 84)

Same signatures with different names (Pages 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54,55, 56, 57, 58 & 59)

Three different signatures provided on the forms for the Presidential candidate

Vice Presidential candidate not qualified on basis of provided date of birth of October 15, 1998. The details of the vice presidential candidate were also omitted on the personal record form

The candidate’s Statutory Declaration was incomplete

13. Akwasi Addai Odike – United Progressive Party

The Commission has been served with court processes challenging the membership and candidacy of Mr. Akwasi Addai Odike by some members of the United Progressive Party. The processes seek to restrain the Electoral Commission from issuing, accepting and registering Mr. Odike to contest the 2016 presidential election as the flag bearer of the UFP.

The Commission is therefore unable to accept Mr. Odike’s nomination forms until the matter in court has been concluded. We hope that Mr. Odike and the UPP would resolve the matter by October 14, 2016; after which date the Commission would be unable to process the nomination.

Writer's email: enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh

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