Ghana’s former Attorney General, Nii Ayikoi Otoo has taken a swipe at some persons who have filed to contest as president, describing them as “surrogates of the NDC” adding that someone like Akua Donkor “is not a serious individual.”
There have been concerns in sessions of the public that the number of persons filing for this year’s presidential slot was too many. A total of 17 people have submitted their forms to run for the highest office of the land.
Out of that number, 15 are political parties with the remaining two are being independent candidates. Speaking on TV3’s political program, Eye On The Seat, Mr. Ayikoi Otoo said “I do not believe that all the candidates there are filing because they seriously think they can win elections. Some of them are clear surrogates of the NDC…
“I don’t see any serious individual taking somebody like Akua Donkor serious as a presidential candidate. This is not an Assembly work… This is not a serious individual…
“I mean look at someone saying that ‘if you attack President Mahama, she’ll also attack you’… A presidential candidate who is not fighting for her own cause?
“Who is not concerned about himself but is going to attack others because they are attacking others… You think these are serious people? I’m sorry but these are surrogates who have been put there to divert attention.”
Another renowned lawyer on the show, John Ndebugri expressed similar concerns and indicated that if he were the Chair of the Electoral Commission, he would have employed other critical means of getting truly interested and capable people to contest for president.
He said “If you’re citizen and you qualify, you can contest but to contest to be a president is not a joke and it is not for fun. So those who are serious are the ones who should go and contest.
“All these things have a history, even some time ago, people who did not have property were not allowed to vote but we have progressed quite considerably and because there is so much space, everybody wants to go and occupy that space. So you have to find a way of restricting the space.”
Filing of nominations closed on Friday September 30 and the Electoral Commission says it is currently vetting the forms submitted.
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