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Charlotte Osei - Chairperson of the EC
Charlotte Osei - Chairperson of the EC

Interesting times ahead of Election 2016

Interesting times lie ahead as we count down to the 2016 polls.

Yesterday, the Electoral Commission (EC) gave a shocker to 13 of the 17 presidential aspirants who, before then, had been confident of contesting this year’s presidential poll.

As of 12 noon yesterday, the deadline set by the EC for all presidential aspirants who had filed their nominations to contest the 2016 polls to present their bankers’ draft of GH¢50,000, 13 political party presidential nominees and two independent aspirants had done so to make their nominations valid.

But after final vetting of the nomination forms by the EC, the flag bearers of the All People’s Congress (APC), Mr Hassan Ayariga; Dr Edward Mahama of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Dr Agyenim Boateng of the United Front Party (UFP), Mr Kofi Akpaloo of the Independent People’s Party (IPP), Kwabena Adjei of the Reformed Patriotic Democrats (RPD) and Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) were all disqualified from the December 7 polls.

Others disqualified from the presidential race were Dr Henry Herbert Lartey of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), Mr Richard Nixon Tetteh of the United Development Systems Party, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings of the National Democratic Party (NDP) and Mr Ward Brew of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP).

This automatically means that only four out of the 17 presidential aspirants who filed their nominations with the EC can contest this year’s presidential poll. 

They are the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and an independent presidential aspirant, Mr Jacob Osei Yeboah.

Following the vetting of the nominations and the passing of the eligibility criteria, the process will continue with balloting for positions on the ballot paper. 

Meanwhile, those who were disqualified as a result of ‘illegalities’ would be sent to the Attorney-General’s Office for possible prosecution.

It will be recalled that some 23 nomination forms were picked by the various political party presidential aspirants and independent aspirants when the EC opened nominations on September 13 this year. 

Interesting times

It is interesting how the boys are being separated from the men as the EC rolls out its electoral calendar towards the December 7 election. Already, some of the disqualified aspirants have threatened to go to court, while others have pledged to form alliances with other political parties.

The two dominant political parties, the NDC and the NPP, have managed to organise mammoth rallies as a show of their  strength in this year’s polls. 

The CPP is strategically positioning itself to win the needed votes across the country, as it is steadily gathering momentum in its electoral campaign.

The PPP, before its presidential aspirant was disqualified, had had its campaign suspended for three days following the sudden demise of its 2012 running mate and parliamentary candidate for Korle Klottey, Madam Eva Naa Merley Lokko. 

Before then, it was working hard to win the needed votes across the country to make an impact.

The PNC, the NDP and the APC had also laced their boots to win the much needed votes to make an impact in this year’s polls.

Stoning Nana Akufo-Addo wrong 

However, as the political atmosphere gets interesting and keener, we are also witnessing charged and heated situations. 

The reported hurling of stones at the flag bearer of the NPP, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, last week Wednesday by an unidentified person in the crowd at an NPP rally at Osu cannot be accepted in our body politic.

Nana Akufo-Addo was on the second leg of his tour of the Greater Accra Region which had earlier taken him to Alajo in  Ayawaso Central and subsequently to Osu in Klottey Korle on Wednesday, October 5.

But as he began to plead with supporters to also vote for the NPP’s parliamentary aspirant for the area, Mr Philip Addison, he was compelled to pause his delivery, turning to complain to those beside him on the platform that someone had hit him with a stone.

 Even though the sad episode was not life-threatening to Nana Akufo-Addo, such an act, regardless of who was behind it, cannot pass without outright condemnation.

Decorous campaign

What happened to Nana Akufo-Addo is wrong and underscores the need for more public education on how to conduct politics in a decorous and mutually respectful manner. 

There is the need to treat all presidential and parliamentary candidates with decorum and respect. After all, they are sacrificing their lives, have exposed their families to criticism and invested time and energy to serve their country.

Renew commitment to peace

As we all get ready for the general election in two months' time, we must re-commit  to the peace, security and stability of this country.

Political parties must also adhere strictly to the Political Parties Code of Conduct and be tolerant at all times.

Ghana has experienced over two decades of smooth and peaceful multi-party democracy which has created socio-political harmony, economic well-being, the rule of law and active participation of the citizenry in the decision-making process at all levels of society.

These democratic gains must never be sacrificed nor taken for granted in the run-up to the elections, the seventh under the Fourth Republican dispensation.

The leadership of political parties must also advise their communicators who appear on radio discussion programmes to try to uphold the dignity of political leaders when discussing them.

In all of these efforts, the EC must also carry out its duties according to the laws regulating the conduct of political parties and be fair to all. 

Equally, all stakeholders, particularly the security agencies and the media, must be professional in their endeavours to make this year’s elections one to remember.

 

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