NDP gives EC 48 hours to reverse disqualification

The National Democratic Party (NDP) has given the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) two days to rescind a decision to disqualify its founder and leader from contesting the 2016 polls.

Leader of the Party Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings is among twelve-plus-one candidates disqualified by the Commission on various grounds including irregularities and forgery of nomination forms.

It will be the second time the wife of Ghana’s longest serving head of state is being disqualified from standing elections after her forms were rejected in 2012 ahead of that year’s elections.

The forms of NDP’s flagbearer were disqualified by the Commission this time around because one of the subscribers by name Salifu Abdulai, according to Chair Charlotte Osei, had signed as a resident of two districts in the Volta Region and the Central Region.

But speaking on Accra-based Joy FM on Monday, October 10, Communications Director of the NDP Ernest Owusu Bempah said the decision of Madam Osei is calculated to give the incumbent National Democratic Congress (NDC) an advantage in the December 7 elections.

He stated that nothing will stop them from heading to court except the Commission rescinds its decision in the next 48 hours.

Meanwhile, the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) also convened an emergency meeting at its head office over the announcement by the Commission. It expressed dissatisfaction with the decision but was coy on the next line of action.