All candidates contesting the presidential and parliamentary elections in December are mandated to sign a statutory declaration affirming their qualification to stand for and be elected for the slot being contested. "The statutory declaration is to be made before and certified by either a judge, a judicial officer, notary public, commissioner of oaths, or any person authorised by law to administer an oath," Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Friday. "Any person designated as vice-president for the election is also mandated to sign the statutory declaration, which forms part of requirements on the Election 2008 Nomination Form." The EC on Friday September 26 launched another phase of the electoral process by making nominations forms available for prospective candidates who wish to contest the presidential or parliamentary elections. Presidential nomination forms are available at the EC headquarters in Accra whilst parliamentary nomination forms are available at the constituency and district offices of the EC. The 92-page Presidential Nomination Form is divided into four parts. Part one details the candidate's name and age, Voter ID Card number, Polling Station name and code, current residential address, occupation and particulars of two registered voters resident in the area of authority of each district assembly. Part Two focuses on the Vice Presidential candidate; Part Three is statutory declaration; and Part Four is on the candidate's personal record including date and place of birth, home town, region, highest educational qualification, institution, year completed, present or last employer, position, profession, marital status and spouse. The completed nomination forms for the presidential and parliamentary elections would be received between October 16 and 17 from 9.00 am to 12.00 noon and 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm daily. Nominations for the presidential candidate will be received at the EC headquarters in Accra whilst the parliamentary forms will be received at the constituency and district offices. The filing fees for the presidential and parliamentary elections are GH¢5,000 and GH¢500 respectively. Dr Afari-Gyan explained that a candidate stood nominated; whenever the nomination paper and the statutory declaration of a candidate are delivered and the deposit is paid in accordance with the relevant regulations unless a proof is given to the satisfaction of the returning officer of the death, withdrawal or disqualification of the candidate. The returning officer shall inform a candidate that his or her nomination is invalid where the particulars of the candidate or the persons subscribing to the nomination paper are not as required by law. The candidate would be allowed an opportunity to make any amendment or alteration that the candidate considers necessary. The returning officer will endorse and sign the nomination paper the fact and reasons for his or her decision, and inform the EC accordingly and the Commission shall refer the matter with its observations to the Attorney General. Source: GNA