With the Electoral Commission (EC) set to receive nominations for presidential and parliamentary aspirants, this year’s presidential ballot paper will be long if all aspirants file their forms.

Apart from 12 registered political parties, 27 individuals have also picked up codes to download the presidential forms to contest as independent presidential candidates, a highly placed source at the EC has told the Daily Graphic.

However, as is the convention, not all the aspirants, including some political parties, will submit the nomination forms expected to be filed from September 9 to September 13, 2024.

The completed presidential nomination forms are to be delivered at the Head Office of the EC between the hours of 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. as well as between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. each day, while that of parliamentary aspirants would be delivered at the district offices of the EC.

Political parties

The 12 political parties that have picked up the nomination forms include the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Convention People’s Party (CPP), the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), and the All People’s Congress (APC).

The rest are the People’s National Convention (PNC), the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), the Ghana Union Movement (GUM), the National Democratic Party (NDP), the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP) and the Progressive Alliance for Ghana (PAG).

Independent aspirants

Among the independent aspirants who received passcodes from the EC are George Twum-Barim-Adu, Samuel Apea-Danquah, Alan K. Kyerematen, Nana Kwame Bediako, Jacob Osei Yeboah and Richard Sumah.

The others are Kofi Koranteng, Desmond Abrefa, Dr Agnes Ayisha, Dr Nii Amu Darko, Wilberforce Andrews, Nana Stephens, Rev. Samuel Worlanyo and T. K. Amenya.

The list also includes Robert Roy Reindorf, Paul Perkoh, Seth Ntim Agyarko, Stephen Atubiga, Janet Asana Nabla, Sam Ankrah, Nana Ohene Aggrey Bentsil Djan and Tom Asiseh.

The rest are Kenneth Kwame Asamoah, Tawiah N. Hemans, Muhammad Abdullah, James Kwasi Oppong and Isaac Wiafe Ofori.
A disqualified candidate can appeal against the decision of the EC, while the list of those qualified would be made known after the receipt of nominations. 

Forms

The EC made the nomination forms available on its website for both presidential and parliamentary aspirants on August 2, 2024, to give them enough time to fill the forms and effect any corrections in case mistakes are made in filling the forms.

Political parties with provisional certificates are not qualified to contest as political parties until they get their final certificates from the EC, the source maintained.

Context

The availability of the forms and the fees charged are in pursuance of Regulations 6, 7 and 8 of the Public Elections Regulations, 2020 (C.I. 127).

The EC maintained the 2020 elections filing fees for presidential candidates at GH¢100,000 and GH¢10,000 for parliamentary candidates.

However, female presidential candidates and persons with disability are required to pay GH¢75,000, while female candidates and persons with disability seeking to contest as Members of Parliament (MP) are required to pay GH¢7,500.

Return of forms

The C.I 127 provides that a candidate for election as President shall be nominated on the official nomination forms of the commission and the completed presidential nomination forms for each candidate for President “shall be signed by the candidate and not less than two persons who were registered voters of each district assembly.”

In a statement earlier, the EC said the completed forms should designate the person to serve as Vice-President. The nomination forms shall be in quadruplicate and shall be delivered personally by the presidential candidate or any two of the registered voters who signed the nomination forms for the candidate.

“In addition to the completed nomination forms, the candidate shall submit four copies of a recent post-card (bust sized) photograph against a red background showing the full face and ears of the candidate to the Returning Officer,” the EC added.

The Chairperson of the EC serves as the Returning Officer for the presidential election.