Mahama files; has Akufo-Addo et al. to contend with

President John Dramani Mahama’s delegation was at the Electoral Commission Thursday afternoon to complete processes that can send him back to the Flagstaff House as Ghana’s president after the December polls.

Already, leader of the opposition New Patriotic Party, Nana Akufo-Addo who lost the last election by little over 300,000 votes, submitted his forms before 10:00am.

Other parties followed him. The Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Paa kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur walked in at about 1:56 pm to submit the nomination forms of his boss, Mr. Mahama for the presidential race.

He was accompanied by the leadership of the governing National Democratic Congress.

They included National Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia, and his deputy Koku Anyidoho; National Women’s Organiser, Hajia Zainab Joyce Mahama; Greater Accra Regional Chairman, Ade Coker and the party’s Klottey Korle parliamentary candidate Dr Zanetor Rawlings.

Spotting all white with red, black, green strips representing the NDC colours, the Vice President Amissah-Arthur introduced himself as the one submitting the presidential nomination forms on behalf of the President, John Mahama.

The commissioners at the EC, led by the chairperson Charlotte Osei, received the forms.

The commission briefly went through his forms and informed him that the party would be communicated to if the president’s nomination is accepted.

Though the NDC was ready to pay GHC50,000 as the filing fees for the president, the presidential delegation was informed about the EC’s inability to receive the banker’s draft.

He mentioned the court’s injunction filed by some opposition political parties. The delegation completed the process under 20 minutes and left the EC’s offices.

Other candidates who were able to submit their nomination forms before 2:30pm included Akwasi Addai Odike of the United People’s Party; Mahama Ayariga’s running mate presented his forms as the All People’s Congress candidate, and Kofi Akpaloo of the Independent People’s Party.

In all, 23 persons including independent presidential aspirants have picked forms to contest the December 7, 2016 presidential election.

Acceptance of nomination forms for both presidential and parliamentary candidates ends on Friday, September 30, 2016.

The Vice President told the media he is hopeful all the 275 parliamentary candidates would be able to file their forms to enable them go to “every nook and cranny” of the country to campaign.