UFP ex-candidate, disqualified, threatens legal action against EC

Nana Agyenim Boateng, the flagbearer of the United Front Party (UFP), has threatened legal action against the Electoral Commission (EC) following his disqualification from standing in the 7 December presidential election.

Speaking to the host of The Asaase Breakfast Show, Kojo Mensah, this morning (Tuesday 20 October), Agyenim Boateng said he was disqualified because of the electoral threat he poses to President Akufo-Addo in the December polls.

“I’m amazed about it and I’m going to take legal action against the Electoral Commission.

“As I’m talking to you now, I’m on my way to the EC to take the document they are saying certain people who filed my document, who endorsed me, said they know nothing about me when they [EC] contacted them. So they have in mind that those signatures are a forgery.”

Selective disqualification?

He wondered why some of the political parties were invited to correct mistakes in their application but he was not allowed to do so.

“Some of the political parties didn’t have genuine documents. There were lots of discrepancies in their documents. You called them back and gave their document back to them.

“Even within the weekend, PNC was on their form, still registering. The time was overdue. But why me? Because of where I am coming from: I am a threat to the president. So, come what may, they should find a way to disqualify me,” the UFP flagbearer said.

Agyenim Boateng claims the EC recently increased the filing fees for presidential candidates in an attempt to boot him out of this year’s election.

On Monday the EC disqualified five presidential aspirants out of the 17 prospective candidates for the 7 December election.

Practical flaws

According to Jean Mensa, the EC chair, the five aspirants were disqualified after they filed irregular applications. The problems included forged signatures of party members to endorse candidates.

The five individuals are Agyenim Boateng, Kofi Koranteng, Marricke Kofi Gane, Akwasi Odike (United Progress Party) and Kwesi Busumburu (People’s National Party).

The EC chair served notice that those whose difficulties stem from criminal acts such as forgery of signatures and manufacturing of sponsors will be forwarded to the police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further examination.

She said the GHC100,000 filing fee will be refunded to each candidate, in keeping with the rules for the process.

However, speaking on the same Asaase Breakfast Show broadcast, one of the disqualified flagbearers, Marricke Kofi Gane, an independent candidate, also questioned the EC’s approach in handling the matter.

He said the Electoral Commission could have offered him the opportunity it gave others to correct irregularities on his application documents.

However, he urged his supporters to remain calm as he explores various avenues to resolve the matter.

Fred Dzakpata

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