An electoral officer checks the identification of a prison guard before she casts her ballot, at a polling station in Accra, on December 7, 2012, during national elections. Ghana voted in a high-stakes presidential election today which is expected to be close, with the emerging country seeking to live up to its promise as a beacon of democracy in turbulent West Africa. AFP PHOTO
The Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) has disqualified thirteen presidential candidates from contesting this year’s elections, while only qualified four candidates.
EC Chairman, Charlotte Osei, on Tuesday in Accra named the qualified candidates as John Mahama of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Nana Akufo-Addo of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ivor Greenstreet of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), and Jacob Osei-Yeboah, an independent candidate.
She said that the nominees have been excluded from the 2016 race as presidential candidates for violating various aspects of the electoral laws of Ghana.
Osei added that the reasons include fraudulent signatures, absence of required number of signatures, and improper filling of nomination forms.
She added that some of the fraudulent information provided by the nominees would be followed up by the police for possible arrest and prosecution.
Ghana goes to the polls on Dec. 7 to elect a president and 275 Members of Parliament.
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