Several presidential candidates submitted their nomination forms on Monday, September 9, 2024, ahead of the upcoming December elections.
Among those who filed were Dr. Hassan Ayariga of the All People’s Congress (APC), Samuel Apea-Danquah of Yellow Ghana, and independent candidate George Twum Barima Adu. Additionally, Nana Kwame Bediako, popularly known as Cheddar, also submitted his nomination at the Electoral Commission’s (EC) headquarters.
After filing his nomination, Dr. Hassan Ayariga reflected on his past experience, claiming vindication over the removal of former EC Chairperson, Charlotte Osei.
He referenced his disqualification in the 2016 elections, attributing it to politically motivated inconsistencies in his signatures. Ayariga argued that signatures naturally vary and should not be grounds for disqualification.
Expressing confidence in the current EC, Dr. Ayariga stated, “This is someone who contested in 2012, filled the forms himself, and qualified.”
“In 2016, the disqualification was based on differences in signature and I wrote to Madam Charlotte then that signatories were not rubber stamps that you can have it perfectly, people are bound to make some curves in their signatory, and you cannot use that to disqualify people.”
“I was vindicated by my statement against her and that’s why she is not the EC Chair again and we have a new one. We are here to support any Commissioner to make sure that Ghana is a better place for us, and that we elect a free, fair and transparent president, this process should be fair, it’s already free and should be fair and transparent.”
Earlier the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia also submitted his nomination forms.
Dr Bawumia was accompanied by his wife Samira Bawumia, his running mate Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh and his wife Alma Pokua Adade-Prempeh.
Party executives, including the National Chairman, Stephen Ntim, General Secretary Justin Koduah Frimpong, Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and other leading members of the NPP, are also at the EC to provide support and solidarity.
The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, is also expected to file his nomination later in the day.
Bawumia is hoping to break the 8-year jinx to become Ghana’s next president, taking over from his boss, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Source: Hamdia Mohammed