With the filing for Ghana’s 2024 presidential election concluded, the focus now shifts to the Electoral Commission’s (EC) review and balloting process.
Here’s what to expect as the EC prepares to finalize the list of candidates.
EC’s Review Process
The EC is set to conduct a thorough review of all submitted nominations. Dr. Bossman Asare, Deputy Commissioner in charge of Corporate Services highlighted the process: “We are going to come up with those who have qualified and those who did not meet the requirement. After that, the team in charge will work on balloting for positions, which will replicate at the constituency level.”
Candidates must meet several criteria, including providing valid tax clearance certificates and endorsements from supporters. Dr. Asare emphasized the importance of these documents, stating, “Their tax clearance certificate, and the endorsers are also very important.”
Jean Mensa, EC Chairperson, outlined that two teams will be responsible for the review. The technical team will scrutinize the forms to ensure legal compliance, while the IT team will verify voter ID cards of candidates and supporters. “Both teams have been provided adequate training and have been oriented to carry out their functions as required by law,” Madam Mensa said. She stressed that these teams are guided to operate strictly within legal boundaries, ensuring fairness and precision.
The Balloting Process
Once the qualification announcements are made, the EC will proceed with balloting to determine the order of candidates on the ballot paper. This step is crucial as it can influence voter perceptions and campaign strategies. The balloting will occur at both national and constituency levels to ensure a fair presentation of candidates.
Preparing for the Campaign
As the EC finalizes the list of qualified candidates and prepares for balloting, candidates are readying themselves for the campaign period. The results of the vetting and balloting will significantly impact campaign strategies and voter engagement.
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