The Electoral Commission has announced that the District Assembly and Unit Committee elections will be held on Tuesday, September 1, 2015.
In a statement signed by deputy chairman (Operations) at the EC, Amadu Sulley said the Commission has resumed preparations for the conduct of the elections.
The elections will be held in all electoral areas and units except those in the Lower Manya Krobo district in the Eastern Region.
[contextly_sidebar id=”cwXdvV7AHatk05pWqH6JDcgtojAkJOzm”]The nomination of candidates will take place on Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd July, 2015 for the District Assembly elections, and Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th July, 2015 for the Unit Committee elections.
The nominations will be taken from 9:00am to 12:00 noon and 1:00pm to 5:00pm each day.
Amadu Sulley added that nomination forms can be obtained at the District Office of the Commission or from the Deputy Returning Officer (Special Duties) in the electoral area.
All duly completed nomination forms are to be submitted to the Deputy Returning Officer (Special Duties) on the dates set aside as nomination days.
The statement warned that a person can contest either the District Assembly Election or the Unit Committee Election but not both elections.
The Commission cautioned prospective candidates to note that “no fee shall be paid for obtaining the nomination forms or for filing to contest the elections.”
“All prospective candidates are to submit four (4) copies of a recent photograph of bust size with red background, showing the full face and both ears. All interested and qualified persons who want to contest any of the elections are to take note and act accordingly,” it added.
Background
In February this year, the Supreme Court canceled the District Assembly and Unit Committee elections which was scheduled to take place on March 3, 2015.
An aspiring assembly man, Benjamin Eyi Mensah dragged the EC to court after he was denied the opportunity to contest in the elections.
He said he was denied the opportunity despite meeting all conditions to contest but the EC closed nominations before the maturation of the Constitutional Instrument (CI) 85.
The Justice William Atuguba led panel of Judges ruled in favour of the fisherman and declared the election “unconstitutional.
The EC later sent to Parliament, a new legislation to enable it re-organize the District Assembly Elections.
The law meant to regulate the conduct of the election, Constitutional Instrument (C.I) 89, matured on June 10, 2015.
By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana