Ghana’s election management body has stated that it is confident presidential and parliamentary elections in that country will take place on the scheduled date of December 7.
The Electoral commission of Ghana has been battling more than four political parties in court after their presidential candidates were disqualified from contesting next month’s elections.
The disqualified presidential candidates had errors on their nomination forms filed last month. Among those disqualified is former first lady of Ghana, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings.
There is a high level of uncertainty over the elections due to the ongoing court cases, but the Chairperson of the Commission Charlotte Osei told the BBC in London that the numerous law suits will not affect the date for the polls.
Mrs. Osei who is the first female chairperson of the election body said the decision to face the aggrieved political parties in court was to defend Ghana’s electoral laws.
She said “The chairperson of the commission is the returning officer for presidential elections, so my job is to receive and examine the forms and if there is any legal basis where the forms cannot be accepted, you report to the commission and the entire commission takes a decision”
Mrs. Osei said she was just doing her job in disqualifying candidates that didn’t meet the criteria set out for contesting the elections.
Ghana has held successful general elections since 1992 and has had smooth transitions as well over this period.
The incumbent president, John Dramani Mahama is being challenged by his closest rival Nana Akufo Addo of the opposition New Patriotic Party.
Source: Africafeeds.com
