The 17 presidential hopefuls who submitted their nomination forms to the Electoral Commission (EC) last week are all upbeat about their chances of sailing through the eligibility criteria required for them to contest this year’s presidential election.
The eligibility of the flag bearers of 15 political parties and the two independent candidates will, however, depend on the outcome of the vetting of their declaration forms by the election management body, which is leaving no stone unturned in its bid to ensure strict compliance with the rules of engagement.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in separate interactions, some of the aspirants and sources close to them were cock sure that their nominations would go through successfully to enable them to prosecute their campaigns to win the 2016 presidential election.
Some political observers have observed that if was normal for the presidential candidates to be confident about their chances but others dismissed the confidence levels of most of the candidate arguing that since 1992 only two political parties — NDC and NPP have dominated the political landscape.
They said this year’s general election would still be a two horse race between the NPP and the NDC.
The 15 flag bearers of political parties and their running mates as they filed at the EC are: Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Dr Mahamadu Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party (NPP); Akwasi Addai and Yaw Brogya Mensah of the United Progressive Party (UPP); Nana Agyenim Boateng and David Bunya of the United Freedom Party (UFP) and Hassan Ayariga and Emmanuel Carl Bartels of the All People’s Congress (APC).
Others are John Dramani Mahama and Kwesi Amissah-Arthur of the National Democratic Congress (NDC); Kofi Apaloo and Margaret Obrine Sarfo of the Independent People’s Party (IPP); Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings (whose running mate is yet to be introduced) of the National Democratic Party (NDP); Akua Donkor (yet to introduce her running mate) of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP); Kwabena Adjei and Kwame Manu Sarpong of the Reform Patriotic Democrats (RPD) and Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom and Brigitte Dzogbenuku of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP).
The rest are Richard Nixon Tetteh (yet to introduce running mate) of the Unity Development System Party (UDSP); Dr Henry Lartey and John Amekah of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP); Ivor Greenstreet and Gabby Nsiah Nketiah, Proprietor of Ganiva Batteries, of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Dr Edward Mahama and Emmanuel Anyidoho of the People’s National Convention (PNC) and Thomas Ward-Brew and Isaac Nii Otoo Otoo of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP).
The two independent presidential aspirants and their running mates are Jacob Osei Yeboah (running mate yet be introduced) and Kwame Asiedu Walker and Nana Esi Koree, also known as Lady Tamara.
Eligibility criteria
Among the eligibility criteria are the need for the aspirants to take the contents of the statutory declarations seriously and understand the full legal implications of admissions made under oath.
They are also to take note of the requirement under the law to ensure that their tax obligations are met in full or make satisfactory arrangements in respect of tax obligations with the appropriate tax authority.
The EC has also reminded the aspirants to take note of the requirement to declare their assets to the Auditor-General in order to meet the eligibility criteria.
Again, they are supposed to write their names, without titles, their age, sex, political party or independent candidate, as the case may be, in block letters at the back of their photographs.
The EC also said the pictures should show both ears, be on a red background and be postcard size.
Already, the issue of the legality of the filing fee is before the law court and the matter is expected to be heard soon.
Otherwise, the EC added that “nomination forms should also be submitted with the requisite filing fees in bankers’ draft and that the co
