The leader of Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), Madam Akua Donkor has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to reject nomination of the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo–Addo, for failing to declare his assets.
She challenged the EC to provide the public with evidence of Nana Akufo-Addo’s declaration of his assets, if he did, or reject his nomination forms with immediate effect.
“Although, I admire the boldness, confidence and the professional manner in which the EC boss has discharged her duties, particularly the dissection to reject the nomination of majority of the presidential aspirants without fear of favour, I challenge the EC to exhibit those same values in dealing with the NPP presidential candidate, “she said.
She said no one or any political party was above the law, and so if by law her nomination was rejected based on errors, then Nana Akufo-Addo’s nomination forms should also be rejected because he also erred by not declaring his assets.
EC’s action lawful
Madam Akua Donkor said she had come to realize that the commission acted on the law and, therefore, she had accepted the EC’s decision to reject her nomination forms in good faith.
According to her, the EC did not make a mistake in rejecting the nomination forms of the 13 presidential aspirants in any way.
She said Although she was not happy about the decision, there was nothing she could do if according to the law she made mistakes on her nomination forms that were too late to rectify.
Madam Akua Donkor expressed the belief that if more presidential candidates were giving the chance to contest the election, it would deepen and strengthen Ghana’s multi-party democracy, but was not a good ground to tolerate mediocrity in any form.
“If something is wrong by law, it is wrong and must not be tolerated in the name of promoting multi-party democracy,” she said.
BACKGROUND
Seventeen presidential aspirants picked forms at the EC to contest the 2016 presidential election, but on Monday, October 10, this year, the commission disqualified 13 of them.
Those who were disqualified included Madam Akua Donkor of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Hassan Ayariga of the All People’s Congress (ACP), Dr. Edward Mahama of the People National Convention (PNC) and Nana Konadu Agyeman–Rawlings of the National Democratic Party (NDP).
Following the announcement, the NDP and the PPP have sued the EC to make it rescind its decision, while the GCPP has threatened a similar action.
Other parties have also petitioned the EC to reconsider its decision.
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