The presidential election is heating up, with a whopping 24 candidates filing their nominations to contest the top spot at the September 13 deadline.
The people, who are a diverse pool, include candidates from political parties and independents, with three women in contention for the number one top job.
The Electoral Commission (EC) had sold nominations to 39 aspirants, comprising 12 political parties and 27 independent candidates, but only 24 made the cut by the deadline.
Some notable candidates include Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and former President John Dramani Mahama of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Other contenders include Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, a former Minister of Trade and Industry, and Nana Kwame Bediako, a businessman.
The candidates represent a diverse range of parties, including the All People’s Congress, Convention People’s Party, Ghana Freedom Party, and the Liberal Party of Ghana.
Three female candidates, including the famous Akua Donkor of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), are also vying for the presidency, adding to the excitement and unpredictability of the election.
Other Candidates
Other political party candidates are Dr. Hassan Ayariga of the All People’s Congress (APC), Bernard Mornah of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Kofi Akpaloo of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), and Dr. Daniel Augustus Lartey Jnr of the Great Consolidated People’s Party (GCPP).
The rest are Rev. Christian Kwabena Andrews of the Ghana Union Movement (GUM), Kofi Asamoah Siaw of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Mohammed Frimpong of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Nana Akosua Frimpomaa Sarpong-Kumankumah of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and Janet Asana Nabla of the People’s National Party (PNP).
Independent Candidates
Among the independent candidates are Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, Nana Kwame Bediako, Samuel Apea-Danquah, George Twum Barimah-Adu, Kofi Koranteng, Desmond Abrefah, Nana Stephens Adjepong, Paul Perkoh, James Kwesi Oppong, John Enyonam Kwakwu Kpikpi, Dr. Samuel Sampong Ankrah, and Nii Amu Darko.
The EC is currently vetting these candidates to ensure they meet the legal criteria, and once the vetting process is complete, a balloting exercise will determine the order of the candidates on the ballot paper.
The presidential election is scheduled to take place on December 7, 2024.
Competitive Election
The 2024 presidential election promises to be intense, with the NPP and NDC expected to dominate the contest.
However, the emergence of independent candidates and smaller political parties could potentially cause upset.
The country’s electoral system uses a two-round system to elect the President, while the 276 (including SALL) Members of Parliament (MPs) will be elected in single-member constituencies using first-past-the-post voting.
By Ernest Kofi Adu