The EC is currently fighting lawsuits from the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), the National Democratic Party (NDP), the Independent People’s Party (IPP) and the People’s National Convention (PNC), who are contesting its decision to disqualify their presidential aspirants for having errors on their nomination forms.

The parties are praying the court to compel the EC to allow them to correct the mistakes on their forms. So far, the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) and the All People’s Congress (APC) have secured High Couert rulings to that effect.

Speaking on The Big Issue, Mr. Casely-Hayford’s said, the EC’s failings stem from the fact it hastily put together the Constitutional Instrument (CI), overseeing the elections, and are now struggling to interpret it.

In his view, “the Electoral Commission, who actually crafted the Constitutional Instrument, CI 94… don’t even understand what they wrote and how they were going to be able to use itvto be able to streamline and bring some sanity into the presidential nominations and the parliamentary nominations.”

“They didn’t understand it because they are losing cases based on their own law which they drafted… they crafted a law that they themselves cannot defend in court because they have totally misunderstood what they were trying to achieve,” Mr. Casely-Hayford added.

Supreme Court appeal will provide definitive judgement

The EC recently decided to head to the Supreme Court to overturn the High Court judgment quashing the disqualification of the PPP’s Flagbearer, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom.

The EC Chairperson, Charlotte Osei, has justified this decision saying a judgment from the Supreme Court would resolve the other lawsuits it is saddled with, following its disqualification of 12 presidential aspirants.

Mrs. Osei believes that the only point of contention in the disqualifications revolve around the definition of the nomination period.

Thus she said, “we have felt that because we have five candidates challenging… it is better for us to go and challenge this at the Supreme Court so that there is one definitive ruling that covers everyone.”

–

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

The post EC doesn’t understand its own laws – Casely-Hayford appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

It is also challenging the EC’s decision to disqualify its presidential aspirant, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, from the presidential race. Dr. Nduom was disqualified together with eleven other presidential aspirants.

[contextly_sidebar id=”t7azUpNziBWnQWcYuYKWrdbpTaAMMENW”]Dr. Nduom was disqualified along with  12 other presidential aspirants after anomalies were cited in his filed nomination forms.

At the last hearing, the court granted an application by the EC to abridge the time for the hearing of the injunction suit from going ahead with the processes to conduct elections in December.

The PPP is seeking “an order of prohibition to restrain the EC from proceeding with balloting for position of presidential candidates for the 7th December elections.

The plaintiff is also seeking “…a further order directed against the 1st Respondent in her capacity as Returning Officer for Presidential elections to grant the Applicant the opportunity to amend and alter the one anomaly found in his nomination papers as well as accept his nomination papers as amended or altered to enable him contest as a Presidential Candidate for the 7th December 2016 elections.”

The suit has Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom as the exparte applicant, Charlotte Osei, the EC Chairperson, as the first respondent, and the EC as the second respondent.

The writ noted that, “Hon. J. Ayikoi Otoo, Counsel for and on behalf of the applicant, will move this Honourable Court praying for an order for Judicial Review by way of Certiorari to bring to this Court the decision of the Respondents dated 10th October, 2016, which disqualified the Applicant as a Presidential Candidate for the 2016 General Elections, for purposes of having same quashed upon the grounds of… (1) Breach of the rules of natural justice (2) Error apparent on the face of the record and (3) Failing to live the requirement as imposed by law.”

Prior to this  court action, Dr. Nduom had met with the EC boss to get her to rescind her decision, but the meeting ended with no hope for the renowned entrepreneur who was making a third and last attempt at the presidency.

–

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

The post Nduom disqualification: Court hears PPP’s case against EC today appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

These offenses included cases of multiple registrations, forgery of signatures, and multiple endorsements of presidential nominees.

[contextly_sidebar id=”wpVoGN1PNRDXDZbLBIUNzqCLKdAjrQQX”]This comes on the back of the disqualification of 13 presidential nominees whose forms were endorsed by such persons. According to the EC, these acts are criminal in nature, hence their decision to ask the Attorney General to prosecute such persons.

The Deputy Director of Communications at the Commission, Yussif Ayuba, revealed to Citi News that the “Electoral Commission has compiled such persons and duly forwarded to the police for prosecution and now it is in the domain of the police.”

He noted that “there are various degrees of offenses that have been referred. Some are forgery, some are impersonation,” though he could not say when the investigations would commence.

When the EC was explaining reasons for the disqualification of the various aspirants, it noted that the the culprits fell foul of the following sections of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29): Section 211: Perjury, Section 248: making false declaration etc. for office or voting, Section 251: Deceiving a public officer and Section 256: Corruption, intimidation and impersonation in respect of election.

Evidence of some of the offenses were seen in the forms of the Progressive People’s Party’s (PPP) aspirant, Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, the All People’s Congress’ Hassan Ayariga, and the Independent People’s Party’s (IFP) Kofi Akpaloo, among others.

In the case of Dr. Nduom, the EC revealed that one of the subscribers who endorsed his nomination form was found to be legitimately on the register of the Volta Region, yet he went ahead to sign the forms in the Central Region as well with different signatures. The name of the subscriber was given as Richard Aseda.

The IPP’s Kofi Akpaloo, Hassan Ayariga of the APC, Dr. Nana Agyenim Boateng of the United Front Party, Dr. Henry Herbert Lartey of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) and Thomas Nuako Ward-Brew of the Democratic People’s Party, similarly had multiple subscribers having different signatures on the nomination forms, again raising questions as to the legitimacy of the signatures.

In the case of the Reformed Democrat’s Party (RDP) Kwabena Adjei, two subscribers for his forms were not registered voters as they are on the exclusion list for multiple registrations, according to the EC.

The two persons are listed as Stephen Owusu and Fusheini Mariama/ Abdulai Mariama; both possessing two voter ID cards each.

–

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

The post EC refers ‘criminal endorsements’ to police appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This brings to 15 the total number of political parties and independent candidates who are likely to find their names on the ballot box on December 7, 2016.

The CPP and the PNC, were both led by the respective flagbearers.

CPP’s Ivor Greenstreet was accompanied by his running mate, Gabby Nketia, party chairman, Professor Edmund Delle, and others.

Edward Mahama, flagbearer of the PNC, also presented his forms in the company of his party chairman, Bernard Mornah.

However, photographs of Mr. Mahama were missing in the filing forms. He was  thus charged by the EC to furnish the commission with it before close of day.

–

By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Greenstreet, Edward Mahama submit nomination forms [Photos] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

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.

–

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.

He was accompanied to the Electoral Commission (EC)  headquarters by the NDC General Secretary; Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Deputy General Secretary; Koku Anyidoho, Greater Accra Regional Chairman; Ade Coker and other members of the NDC.

The Commission is however not accepting filing fees from the presidential and parliamentary aspirants.

The EC has explained that the decision is temporary, following a court injunction secured by the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), over the hike in the filling fees.

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.”

Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom’s PPP followed its concerns with a suit securing an injunction that has prevented the EC from receiving the nomination fees until a determination of the suit.

Five other political parties have so far submitted nomination forms for their presidential candidates ahead of the December 7 elections.

They include: the New Patriotic Party (NPP), United Front Party (UFP), United Progressive Party (UPP), All People’s Congress (APC) and the Independent People’s Party (IPP).

Follow the hashtag #GhElections on Social Media for election related stories

–

By: Godwin Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Veep submits Mahama’s nomination forms to EC [Photos] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The EC says this is temporary following a court injunction secured by the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) over the hike in the filling fees.

The Commission will also not be accepting filing fees from all other presidential and parliamentary aspirants. The EC however accepted the nomination forms of the NPP Flagbearer.

The PPP filed a suit at the High Court on September 19 seeking an interlocutory injunction to prevent the EC from receiving the nominations.

The PPP, among other things, was seeking a declaration that Regulation 45 of C.I. 94 is discriminatory, arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable.

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 Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom-led PPP followed its concerns with a suit seeking the injunction to prevent the EC from receiving the nominations.

Nana Akufo-Addo was the first presidential nominee at the EC headquarters to file his nomination forms.

Citi News‘ Sixtus Dong Ullo reported that the NPP Flagbearer was flanked by his Campaign Manager; Peter Mac Manu, Acing Party Chairman; Freddy Blay and the Acting General Secretary; John Boadu.

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 Council of Elders; C.K. Tedam.

Other 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.

–

Photo credit: Godwin Allotey

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

The post EC declines Nana Addo’s filing fee over suit appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.