The Electoral Commission (EC) said it was unable to accept Mr Thomas Nuako Ward-Brew of the Democratic People’s Party nomination as the forms were improperly completed and Candidate’s particulars were not provided.
Mrs Charlotte Osei, EC Chairman stated in Accra that the Commission noticed the Candidate did not provide his voter ID number and therefore the Commission is unable to ascertain whether the candidate is a registered voter and therefore eligible for the office of President.
The Statutory Declaration by the Candidate is not signed details missing from statutory declaration (pages 112 and 113).
“However, the same statutory declaration has been signed by the Commissioner of Oaths. This is illegal and unethical, and the signature of the Vice Presidential Candidate is missing.
“The Voter ID number of the Vice Presidential Candidate has not been provided and so the Commission is unable to ascertain whether the Vice Presidential Candidate is a registered voter and eligible to stand as a candidate for that office.
“The number of subscribers to Mr Ward-Brew’s forms did not meet the requirements of Regulation 7 (2) (b) of CI 94,” the Commission stated.
The Commission said there are no signatures for subscribers, signatures of two subscribers (Isaac Dusi & Kofi Kuma) are identical and this raises questions about the legitimacy of the two signatures.
The Commission said the same subscriber – Kumbung Dosetu endorsed the nomination forms in two different districts (Lawra and Nandom) with two different signatures raising issues again on the legitimacy of both signatures.
The EC said two subscribers subscribed in both Dormaa Municipal and Dormaa West districts: Yaa Yeboaa, Voter ID no; 3462001504; Anthony Boamah, Voter ID no: 3462002159.
The Commission said there are undated endorsements on Mr Ward-Brew’s nomination forms; missing residential addresses, thumbprints for even headmasters and teachers and researchers and pastors.
“We will refer the matter of the possible forgeries of these signatures to the Ghana Police Service and the Attorney General for investigation and prosecution in line with the following sections of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29):
The Commission said key criteria for presidential candidates: Forms must be signed by candidate; Forms must be signed by two registered voters in every district (432 valid endorsements required).
One voter cannot endorse more than one presidential candidate; vice president nominee must be named and must meet constitutional requirements for the office of Vice President.
Properly filled forms must be delivered to the Returning Officer on or before the date appointed for receipt of nominations and forms should be submitted in quadruplicates.
The forms should include properly attested statutory declarations stating that candidate has provided accurate details to the Commission, has met all the requirements and is qualified for the office of President.
Other criteria are that four pictures in accordance with dimensions and specifications in the law; Payment of filing fees as determined by the Commission.
The Commission may disqualify a candidate if one of these requirements is not met.
The nomination form is not properly signed by the candidate; the statutory declaration is not properly executed; filing fees not presented in requested mode or amount.
Others are: Less than two registered voters per district sign the nomination forms; the nomination forms are not properly signed by all the subscribing voters; and the candidate or the designated vice president nominee does not meet the legal requirements of the nominated office.
Prior to the close of nominations on the September 29- September 30, candidates whose nomination forms had obvious errors and who submitted early enough, were called by the officers of the Commission and given the opportunity to correct obvious errors or omissions on their nomination forms.
The Commission said the law permits such corrections only within the nomination period hence our earlier call on candidates to submit as early as possible.
Following the receipt of nomination forms last week, and the payment of filing fees earlier today, the EC is now in a position to announce candidates whose nominations have been accepted by the Commission having met the afore stated requirements.
Source: GNA/NewsGhana.com.gh
