By Nicholas Osei-Wusu
Five persons filed their nomination forms by close of the deadline of 5 pm on Friday, September 12, 2024, to contest in the parliamentary elections in the Mampong Constituency in the Ashanti region.
Two of them were, however, asked to go back and complete their forms before re-submission by Monday, September 16, 2024, before they could even be considered for vetting.
Speaking to Correspondent Nicholas Osei-Wusu at Mampong, the Municipal Electoral Officer of the Electoral Commission, Kwabena Karikari, named the three who submitted their completed nomination forms as the incumbent Member of Parliament, Kwaku Ampratwum Sarpong of the ruling New Patriotic Party, NPP; Yakubu Issifu of the National Democratic Congress, NDC; and Peter Sarkodie Abom, an Independent Aspirant who is a former MP on the ticket of the NPP.
According to the Municipal Electoral Officer, aspirants on the ticket of the People’s National Convention, (PNC), and the All People’s Congress (APC), who submitted their forms before the 5 pm deadline yesterday, however, had their forms incomplete, but because they were at the EC’s Municipal Office within time, they have been allowed to go back and complete the forms before re-submitting.
Mr. Karikari noted, however, that all the completed nomination forms shall now be subjected to scrutiny to determine the fate of the aspirants according to the legal requirements before balloting for placement on the ballot paper will be done.
“The rest is left with the Commission. They have met the requirements, but we all send everything to the region for the region to forward them to the Head office. Even if they don’t meet the requirements, we don’t have the power to disqualify anybody,” the Municipal EC Officer disclaimed.
He mentioned the qualifications as being a Ghanaian citizen of at least 21 years of age, a registered voter in the Constituency, not not necessarily a resident, not having any criminal record, having been proposed by two residents and supported by 18 others, and must present a valid Tax Clearance Certificate.
In addition, the aspirants must present a Banker’s Draft of GHC10, 000 as the filing fee payable to the Electoral Commission in respect of the Parliamentary elections.
Mr. Karikari said, so far, the constituency has registered 68,960 voters, and that expressed satisfaction about the success of the election processes and cooperation of the political parties so far.
“So far, I like the relationship among the NPP and the NDC. They have peacefully coexisted as brothers and sisters.”
“We have one Ghana. We don’t have any place to go, so we should conduct the campaign such that we would not be stepping on our toes. It should be conducted in peaceful manner because the parties need the people to vote for them,” he advised.
