The campaign is now on…
When the final whistle was sounded at the Electoral Commission yesterday, most of the leading lights in Ghanaian politics were able to scale through. New Patriotic Party leader Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, National Democratic Congress candidate President John Dramani Mahama, and Progressive People’s Party leader Papa Kwesi Nduom, were cleared without hitches to contest the 2012 presidential vote.
There was a slight scare for Dr. Abu Sakara Foster and his Convention People’s Party, when the presidential candidate’s picture was rejected. The good news is that the CPP managed to rectify the situation immediately, and the candidate was duly approved to contest the poll. Even the Great Consolidated People’s Party managed to sneak through, in spite of the demise of its founder, Mr. Dan Lartey.
At the time of going to press, there was a big question mark over the eligibility of loud-mouthed Kofi Wayo. The maverick leader of the United Renaissance Party was said to have arrived at the offices of the Electoral Commission, immediately after 5:00 p.m., when nominations had officially closed.
Madam Akua Donkor, who promised to pay electricity and water bills for all Ghanaians, did not go through. Her forms were said to have been improperly filled.
The Chronicle sympathises with Madam Akua Donkor and her followers for falling at the final hurdle. But, if truth should be told, her candidacy was always going to run into trouble.
Madam Donkor is unable to either read or write. How she was going to overcome these problems and lead the nation, during which she would be required to deliver State of the Nation addresses, was always going to be a problem.
To be honest, The Chronicle has always seen her desire to contest the presidential race as a crave for a little bit of attention. It was more of a publicity stunt than a genuine determination to become the President of the Republic.
As a woman, it would have been innovative if she had actually been given the nod and gone ahead to win. But, the reality on the ground is that it was always going to be against conventional wisdom for a woman who has not benefitted from formal education to overcome her inadequacies to lead the nation.
With the close of nominations, all is set for the December 7 poll. As from now, those who have been approved by the Electoral Commission to contest are presidential candidates. The campaign has now officially taken off.
The Chronicle takes this opportunity to congratulate the candidates and wish them well in the race. We would like to caution all those seeking the vote of Ghanaians to show why this nation should be under their care for the next four years.
We assure all Ghanaians that The Chronicle will examine all the candidates and make our opinions on all of them known to the reader. In the interim, we would like to reiterate the concern of the average Ghanaian that the campaign should be devoid of rancour and bitterness.
Let there be peace before, during and after the elections. At the end of the day, the country Ghana is certainly bigger than any individual. It is also more important than any political party.
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