The Electoral Commission (EC) has explained why it has disqualified 11 presidential aspirants in the 2024 election.
At a press conference in Accra on Friday afternoon (Sept 20, 2024), the chairperson of the EC, Mrs Jean Mensa explained that 11 out of the 24 aspirants were disqualified for various reasons including incomplete filling of the forms, using voters in a particular district to represent another district, repeating voters in a particular district for another district, not having tax certificates, vice presidential candidates not having tax certificates, unsigned forms by vice presidential candidates among others.
When the window for filing of nominations closed on Friday, September 13, 2024, a total of 24 presidential aspirants submitted their nomination forms to the EC.
From this list 12 presidential aspirants standing on the ticket of political parties and 12 others who were standing as independent entities had filed their nominations with the Electoral Commission (EC) to contest the presidential slot in the December 7 general election.
Explaining further on the process for determining who qualifies to run as a presidential candidate, Mrs Jean Mensa said the EC formed two teams – a technical team and an IT team, that were tasked to thoroughly comb through the forms of each aspirant.
The technical team scrutinised the forms submitted to ensure that aspirants satisfied the qualifications as set out in law, including fulfilment of tax obligations among others.
The IT team on the other hand reviewed the forms to ensure that the voter ID cards of the aspirants and their supporters were valid.
“We are confident that both teams have been thorough and yet fair in their work,” the EC Chair said.
Following the process, 11 out of the 24 aspirants were disqualified for the various reasons including incomplete filling of the forms, using voters in a particular district to represent another district, repeating voters in a particular district for another district, not having tax certificates, their vice presidential candidates not having tax certificates, unsigned forms by vice presidential candidates among others.
Mrs Jean Mensa stated that all aspirants were given the opportunity to rectify errors and those who got disqualified failed to do so.
Qualified candidates
- Mahamudu Bawumia of NPP had no issues and satisfied all the requirements
- Kofi Akpaloo of LPG initially had issues with tax certificate but it was resolved after he corrected it
- Christian Andrews of GUM initially had incomplete details for vice presidential candidate, incomplete details of some supporters but it was resolved after he was provided an opportunity to correct them
- Nana Kwame Bediako, an independent initially had no tax clearance certificate for vice presidential candidate and the photo size that he presented was not a post card, however he corrected the issues and was cleared by
- George Twum-Barimah-Adu, an independent aspirant had no symbol and colours to represent himself but it was resolved after he was provided with the opportunity
- Hassan Ayariga of APC presented only one completed form, the other two did not have some pages, 137 to 142 but the issues were resolved and cleared
- John Dramani Mahama of NDC satisfied all the requirements and was cleared
- Alan Kyerematen, independent candidate satisfied all requirements
- Akua Donkor resolved issues with nomination and was cleared
- Daniel Augustus Lartey Jnr resolved issues with the form and was cleared
- Nana Akosua Frimpomaa Kumankuma of CPP had a number of issues and these issues were resolved
- Mohammed Frimpong of NDP had issues from non submission of tax clearance certificate for vice presidential candidate and some supporters it was resolved within nomination period
- Kofi Koranteng had a number of issues including use of voters in a particular district to support another district. It was rectified and resolved when the issues were brought to his attention
Disqualified aspirants
- Samuel Appiah Dankwa, an independent aspirant had a number of issues, no tax certificate for vice presidential candidate and incomplete forms for supporters. He was provided with an opportunity to rectify but he was unable to do so and was therefore disqualified
- Janet Nabla, an independent aspirant used registration details of particular voters to support her nomination in certain districts in other districts. The vice presidential candidate did not sign forms. The issues were not resolved and she was disqualified
- Desmond Abrefa, an independent used details of voters in a particular district to support the nomination in other districts. He was presented with the findings but was not able to resolve them and so he was disqualified
- Nana Adjepong Stephens, an independent aspirant also used details of voters in particular district to support the nomination in other districts, in addition he had incomplete particulars for supporters. He was not responsive to the nomination requirements and was therefore disqualified
- Bernard Mornah of PNC had incomplete particulars of supporters. He also used registered voters in a particular district to support his nomination in other districts. His form also contained varying signatures of some supporters, and in some cases the same signatures for different supporters. He was therefore disqualified.
- Paul Perkoh, an independent aspirant had incomplete particulars for his supporters and he also used registered voters in a particular district to support his nomination in other districts and he was therefore disqualified
- James Kwesi Oppong, an independent aspirant, his statutory declaration was not notarized. Additionally he used registered voters in a particular district to support his nomination in other districts and was therefore disqualified
- Samuel Sampong Ankrah, an independent aspirant also used registered voters in particular district to support nomination in other districts and was not able to effect the correction and was also disqualified
- Nii Amu Darko, an independent, his forms were incomplete and he also used registered voters in a particular district to support his nomination in other districts and he was disqualified
- Kofi Asamoah Siaw of PPP was disqualified because he had incomplete particulars of some of the supporters
- John Enyonam Kwakwu Kpikpi also had incomplete particulars and also used registered voters in a particular district to support his nomination in other districts and he was disqualified
All the aspirants were provided opportunity to rectify errors, she said.
Content by : Enoch Darfah Frimpong and Dickson Worlanyo Dotseh
