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The electoral commission is expected to start processes with the printing of the ballot papers after the various qualified political parties selected their positions on the ballot paper.
On Monday 19th October 2020, Jean Adukwei Mensa the Electoral Commissioner declared twelve (12) Presidential Candidates eligible to contest in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary election and five (5) aspirants were disqualified due a breach of aspects of the nomination process.
The National Democratic Party (NDC) which is the largest opposition party has picked the second position on the ballot paper for its candidate. The party describe this as the second coming of John Mahama (JM).
While, the National Patriotic Party also expressed excitement after selecting number one on the ballot paper even though the initial wish of the party was to occupy the fourth position which was interpreted as four (4) more for NANA. However, they also claimed that the first position is a sign of victory considering all the developmental achievement of the party in their first tenure of office.
Samuel Tettey, the deputy chairperson in charge of operations further outlined some significances and terms of order on the ballot papers, he said “where a candidate withdraws before the printing of the ballot paper, his or her position on the ballot paper shall be occupied by the next parliamentary candidate. This will however not apply if the withdrawal involves the last candidate on the ballot paper”
He further explains that “where a presidential candidate exists but without a parliamentary candidate, the next parliamentary candidate will be shifted upwards; by indication a political party will be number two on the presidential ballot paper but will be number one on the parliamentary ballot paper due to the shift.”
According to the Electoral commission, all political parties participating in the process will be written to so as to delegate representatives to observe the process.
