The disqualified 2024 presidential candidate for the People’s National Convention, Bernard Mornah, has made a strong assertion regarding Ghana’s upcoming general election, stating that the Electoral Commission cannot proceed without his name on the ballot.
Mornah challenges the Electoral Commission over ballot exclusion
Mornah stated confidently during an interview on the “Prime Morning” show on Oct. 3, 2024, “The Electoral Commission cannot and must not proceed with these elections if I am not on the ballot paper.” “We are a legitimate political party, and I am a legitimate candidate who has met the requirements set forth by the Constitution of Ghana. Excluding us from the elections would be a travesty of democracy,” he added, according to myjoyonline.com.
Mornah’s statement follows the Electoral Commission’s recent disqualification of himself and 10 other hopefuls from the presidential race. The decision is being challenged in court by the PNC candidate and his party.
Mornah believes that the Electoral Commission’s decision to remove him from the race is unjust and unconstitutional, arguing it weakens the democratic process and disenfranchises a significant segment of voters.
Mornah questioned why the Electoral Commission, meant to be a neutral body, had suddenly decided which candidates the people could choose from. “Our constitution guarantees the right of every Ghanaian to participate in free and fair elections, and by extension, it guarantees the right of voters to choose from all qualified candidates.”
PNC to pursue legal action against disqualification
He added that this issue goes beyond his candidacy, saying, “This is not just about Bernard Mornah or the PNC but about protecting the sanctity of our democratic process. If today, the EC can disqualify me without proper justification, then tomorrow it could be another candidate or another party. We must not allow our democracy to be undermined in this manner.”
Mornah said he and his party are considering both legal and political options to ensure his name appears on the ballot. He emphasized that the PNC’s legal action prevents the Electoral Commission from proceeding with any election-related activities until the matter is resolved.
The Electoral Commission, however, has defended its decision to disqualify the 11 candidates and expressed readiness to face any legal challenges.
