At least 23 persons have picked the nomination form for Presidential Candidates to contest the December 2016 polls, the Electoral Commission (EC) has said.

At the launch of the Commission's manual for the election, EC boss Charlotte Osei disclosed that out of the 23 people, 16 are from political parties with the other 7 contesting as independent candidates.

The political parties include governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP), Progressive People’s Party (PPP), National Democratic Party (NDP), People’s National Convention (PNC), Democratic People’s Party (DPP) and United Progressive Party (UPP).

The rest are the Independent People’s Party (IPP), All People’s Congress (APC), United Front Party (UFP), Democratic People’s Party (DPP), Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), Reform Patriotic Democrats (RPD), United Love Party (ULP), Development System Party (UDSP), and Ghana Freedom Party (GFP).

Among the independent candidates are Jacob Osei Yeboah, Kwaku Antwi Owusu, Lawrence Yamil Nketia, John Alex Hamah, Major Ibrahim Rida (rtd), Kwame Asiedu Walker and Chief Dr Yaw Kumi.

Madam Osei said the growing number of aspirants affords Ghanaian electorates the opportunity to choose the ideal candidate whose ideas represent their “values, their interests, their choices, their vision of the future for their families, and their region.”

Regarding the manual, she said it was designed to help potential candidates and agents to understand the “nomination of the electoral process and outline the responsibilities that have to be undertaken as they seek to be elected to the office of president and parliament.”

The EC boss explained, “guideline also highlights the duties and responsibilities of the agents who will represent the candidates at the 29,000 polling station and the 275 collation centres across the nation.”

The manual is divided into four parts with the first part deals with guidelines on the process of becoming a nominee as well as other useful information for the candidates. 

The second part deals with the role of polling agents, duties they are to perform and responsibilities expected of them. This portion also spells out what is expected of polling agents and what is not.

The third section touches on general information of the election as well as other useful information put together by the Commission for both candidates and their agents. 

The final part details the biometric process of verification.

Madam Osei has urged electorates to choose candidates who stand the chance to advance the welfare of the country.