Samuel Apea-Danquah Disqualified from Ghana’s 2024 Presidential Election Amid Controversy
In a shocking turn of events, Samuel Apea-Danquah, an independent candidate for Ghana’s 2024 presidential election, has been disqualified by the Electoral Commission of Ghana, sparking widespread controversy and outrage.
According to sources close to the Apea-Danquah campaign, the candidate’s team had worked tirelessly to address all issues raised by the commission, including obtaining a tax clearance certificate for his vice-presidential candidate, Richmond Nii-Afuah, and completing supporter particulars.
Despite providing evidence of compliance, the Electoral Commission announced Apea-Danquah’s disqualification, citing uncorrected anomalies in his nomination documents.
“We are shocked and disappointed by the commission’s decision,” Apea-Danquah said in a statement. “We have evidence proving that we addressed all issues raised, and it’s clear that this disqualification is unfair.”
The controversy began on September 11, 2024, when Apea-Danquah missed a WhatsApp video call from Samuel Kwaah, Deputy Director of Electoral Services. Kwaah subsequently sent a PDF document outlining necessary corrections to Apea-Danquah’s nomination forms.
Apea-Danquah’s team swiftly addressed the issues, securing the tax clearance certificate and reorganizing documents as requested. They resubmitted their documents on September 13, 2024, confident that they had met the requirements.
However, on September 20, 2024, the Electoral Commission announced Apea-Danquah’s disqualification, alongside the approval of 13 other candidates for the December 7 presidential election.
Prominent candidates approved for the election include current Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and former President John Dramani Mahama.
Apea-Danquah’s disqualification has sparked concerns about the commission’s transparency and fairness.
“This decision undermines the democratic process and the rights of Ghanaian citizens,” said Edwin Takyi, Apea-Danquah’s spokesperson. “We will explore all options to resolve this issue.”
The Apea-Danquah campaign has released evidence supporting their compliance, including:
– A tax clearance certificate for Richmond Nii-Afuah
– Completed supporter particulars
– Resubmitted nomination documents
The Electoral Commission has yet to comment on the controversy.
As the situation unfolds, Ghanaians eagerly await the outcome, hoping for a free, fair, and transparent election.
