Aside the two candidates of the two main political parties; the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), seven other nominees presented their forms at the EC’s headquarters on Thursday.

The others include the National Democratic Party (NDP), the United Front Party (UFP), United Progressive Party (UPP), All People’s Congress (APC), the Independent People’s Party (IPP), and the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP).

The final nomination on the day was filed by the Reformed Patriotic Democrats (RPD), led by its Flagbearer, Kwabena Agyei.

The day begun with the NPP Flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, presenting his forms on Thursday morning, when it emerged that the EC would not be accepting the bank drafts for the filing fees.

This is because of a court injunction secured by the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) over the hike in the filling fees.

The PPP filed a suit at the High Court on September 19, seeking an interlocutory injunction to prevent the EC from receiving the nominations in protest of the amount being charged.

The EC opened nominations earlier in September , and pegged the filing fees for presidential hopefuls at GHc 50,000 and that of parliamentary nominees at GHc 10,000. Some aggrieved parties subsequently asked the EC to review the amount describing it as “exorbitant.”

The Vice-President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur later submitted the nomination forms on behalf of the Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), President John Mahama.

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Photo credit: Godwin Allotey

By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Akua Donkor, Konadu, 7 others submit nomination forms [Photos] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Nana Akufo-Addo was at the Electoral Commission (EC) headquarters in person today [Thursday] to file his nomination forms.

The EC however temporarily refused to accept the filing fee from the NPP Flagbearer, when he submitted his forms.

The Commission said its action was informed by a court injunction secured by the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) over the hike in the filling fees.

The NPP Flagbearer was accompanied by his Campaign Manager; Peter Mac Manu,  Acing Party Chairman; Freddy Blay, Acting Secretary; John Boadu, Chairman of the NPP Council of Elders; C.K. Tedam.

Also present in support were the Former Finance Minister; John Osafo Marfo, the party’s National Women’s Organiser, Otiko Djaba and the Chairman of the NPP’s Legal and Constitutional Committee, Professor Mike Oquaye.

The next major step in Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP’s bid to win power will be on Sunday, October 9 at the Trade Fair Center in Accra where the opposition party will be launching its manifesto.

The incumbent National Democratic Congress (NDC) is expected to file nomination forms for President John Mahama later on Thursday.

Submission of forms

The EC, this morning [Thursday], began receiving completed nomination forms from presidential and parliamentary hopefuls.

The two day exercise will see all nominations filed with the Chairperson between 9am to midday, and 2pm to 5pm.

At the last count, 23 persons had picked up Presidential nomination forms, 16 of them belonging to political parties and 7 independent candidates.

Parliamentary nominees across the country are also expected to file at the various District EC offices. Nominations are expected to close tomorrow at 5pm.

Controversy ahead of filing

Just two days to the deadline for the submission of nomination forms on Friday, September 30, the EC came out remind presidential and parliamentary nominees they will not be eligible to contest the elections if they did not declare their assets with the Auditor General.

The EC in a statement said the “candidates are to take note of the requirement to declare their assets to the Auditor-General in order to meet the eligibility criteria.”

With two days to the deadline, only the Flagbearer of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, has come out publicly to confirm the declaration of his assets to the Auditor General.

The NPP did not receive this warmly as it said the criteria was only binding persons already holding public office, and not those seeking to be office. It however said its candidate will readily declare his assets.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Photo credit: Godwin A. Allotey
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Nana Addo submits nomination forms to EC [Photos] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The EC in a statement said the “candidates are to take note of the requirement to declare their assets to the Auditor-General in order to meet the eligibility criteria.”

With two days to the deadline, only the Flagbearer of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, has come out publicly to confirm the declaration of his assets to the Auditor General.

The EC’s statement also indicated that, the candidates are, among other things, “to also take note of the requirement under law to ensure that their tax obligations are met in full or the need to make satisfactory arrangements in respect of tax obligations with the appropriate Authority.”

Find below the full statement

CANDIDATE NOMINATION – FINAL REMINDERS

The Electoral Commission would like to remind all persons who have picked nomination forms to become candidates for the 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections to please take note of the following:

1. The deadline for receipt of all nomination forms by the Electoral Commission is Friday 30th September, 2016 at 5:00pm. Candidates or persons filing on their behalf are encouraged to submit their nomination forms early to ensure they meet the deadline.
2. Candidates are also urged to take the contents of the statutory declarations seriously, understanding the full legal implications of admissions made under oath.
3. Candidates are to take note of the requirement under law to ensure that their tax obligations are met in full or the need to make satisfactory arrangements in respect of tax obligations with the appropriate Authority.
4. Candidates are to take note of the requirement to declare their assets to the Auditor-General in order to meet the eligibility criteria.
5. Candidates are to ensure that the following details are written in block letters on the back of the photographs accompanying the nomination forms:

• Names (without titles);
• Age;
• Sex;
• Political party/Independent (as the case may be).
• The pictures should show both ears, on a red background and should be post card size.

6. Nomination forms should also be submitted with the requisite filing fees in bankers’ draft. The Commission will NOT accept cheques or cash.

7. Political parties can make bulk payments for their candidates at the Head Office of the Electoral Commission. Independent parliamentary candidates can only pay filing fees at the Constituency level.

Thank you.

Signed: ERIC KOFI DZAKPASU, Head of Communications

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Declare assets or lose your candidature – EC to nominees appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.