Eight Presidential Candidates Submit Nomination Forms for 2024 Election

Eight presidential aspirants, including Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and former President John Dramani Mahama, have officially filed their nomination forms with the Electoral Commission (EC) to contest the 2024 general elections. The submissions mark a key milestone in preparations for the December 7 polls.

The candidates submitted their forms according to a pre-arranged schedule. Besides Dr. Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Mr. Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), others who filed on Monday include Hassan Ayariga of the All People’s Congress (APC), Christian Kwabena Andrews of the Ghana Union Movement (GUM), Percival Kofi Akpaloo of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), and three independent candidates: Nana Kwame Bediako, Samuel Apea-Danquah, and George Twum-Barima-Adu.

The Chairperson of the EC, Jean Mensa, personally received the forms and assured the public that the review process would begin immediately. She further pledged the commission’s commitment to delivering free, fair, and transparent elections.

Dr. Bawumia, accompanied by his wife Samira, his running mate Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, and top NPP officials, was the first to file his forms at around 9:30 a.m. Afterward, he expressed his gratitude to God and called for prayers for the country and the electoral process.

“We pray for God’s blessings for Ghana, the Electoral Commission, and all parties involved. We are confident the EC will live up to its mandate of conducting a successful election,” Dr. Bawumia said.

Former President Mahama’s forms were submitted by a delegation led by the NDC’s National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia. After filing, Mr. Nketia raised concerns about the credibility of the voters’ register, calling for a forensic audit. He emphasized the importance of an accurate register to ensure a fair election outcome and announced that the NDC would hold nationwide demonstrations to push for electoral reforms.

Other candidates, including Hassan Ayariga, Nana Bediako, and Percival Akpaloo, expressed confidence in the EC’s ability to deliver a fair electoral process. They urged Ghanaians to rally behind their campaigns as they compete for the presidency.

With other candidates expected to file in the coming days, the submission of nomination forms has set the stage for what is expected to be a highly competitive race for Ghana’s top office.