John Mahama Criticizes EC Over Bernard Mornah Disqualification Ahead of 2024 Election

John Mahama, the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has openly criticized the disqualification of Bernard Mornah, the presidential candidate of the People’s National Convention (PNC), from the 2024 general elections. Speaking at a rally in Wa, located in the Upper West Region, John Mahama expressed his belief that Mornah deserved a spot on the ballot more than some of the candidates who were approved by the Electoral Commission (EC).

John Mahama accused the EC of unfairly sidelining the PNC candidate, suggesting a bias in the commission’s decision-making process.

“The PNC is a more worthy party than several parties that I see on the ballot paper, but that is the issue with the EC; sometimes they are discriminatory,” John Mahama stated. He implied that some candidates who made it onto the ballot were less qualified than Mornah.

The EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa, responded to the criticism by explaining that Mornah’s exclusion stemmed from irregularities found in his nomination forms, specifically inconsistencies in the signatures of his supporters. Mornah was among eleven aspirants disqualified for various reasons related to errors in their documentation.

Following the disqualification, PNC National Chairman Samson Awingobit voiced his disappointment with the NDC. He accused the NDC of betraying the PNC, given the longstanding relationship between the two parties. According to Awingobit, the NDC leadership did not reach out to the PNC after the disqualification, which contrasted sharply with the actions of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer. Bawumia, despite the PNC’s suspicions that the NPP might have influenced the disqualification, was the only political leader who expressed sympathy to the PNC.

Mahama’s comments were intended to show solidarity with the PNC and question the fairness of the electoral process. He stressed that the disqualification of the PNC was unjustified, saying, “Thirteen candidates were approved, but our brothers in the PNC were unfairly excluded. I don’t see any justification for this.”

Kofi Akpaloo’s Comment

The remarks, however, did not sit well with Kofi Akpaloo, the flagbearer of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG). Akpaloo took offence, deeming Mahama’s comments disrespectful and demanding a retraction and apology. He argued that the NDC leader’s suggestion that some candidates were unworthy to contest the election was unwarranted and belittling. “It is unfortunate for a whole former president of this country to make such comments. How can you classify some of us as unworthy? Who is he [Bernard Mornah] that makes him better than some of us?” Akpaloo retorted.

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He further questioned John Mahama’s credentials, suggesting that the NDC leader’s rise to power was largely due to his affiliation with the NDC rather than individual efforts, contrasting this with the struggles of smaller parties to gain political recognition.

Akpaloo’s criticisms add to the broader controversy surrounding the EC’s disqualification of multiple candidates. In the wake of the disqualifications, Bernard Mornah, the flagbearer of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), and the Yellow Ghana Movement have taken legal action against the EC, challenging the validity of their disqualification.

The disqualification saga highlights underlying tensions regarding the electoral process in Ghana, with accusations of bias, calls for apologies, and legal challenges adding to the political drama leading up to the 2024 election. The outcome of these lawsuits could have significant implications for the inclusivity and fairness of the electoral process.