The Functional Executive Committee of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is demanding a refund of the filing fees of their Presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama from the Electoral Commission of Ghana.
In a letter addressed to the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, cited by the Vaultz News, the NDC said they are formally requesting for a refund of the fees paid prior to the election for not only their Presidential candidate but that of their parliamentary candidates to be paid as well.
Per the electoral laws of Ghana, a presidential or parliamentary candidate must obtain a minimum of 25% and 12.5% respectively in a general election to qualify for a refund and in the letter signed by the General Secretary of the party, Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah it stated that, their presidential candidate did achieve that percentage.
The party cited regulations 46 (1) and 46 (3) of C.I. 127as their basis and asked that the money be deposited into the NDC’s account with GCB Bank.
“Regulation 46 (1) and 46 (3) of C.I. 127 spells out the conditions for a refund or forfeiture of deposits made by presidential or parliamentary candidates. A presidential or parliamentary candidate must obtain a minimum of 25% and 12.5% respectively in a general election to qualify for a refund.”
The party also provided a list for 269 of their parliamentary candidates who also qualified for the refund.
Read Full Letter Below:
This turn of event comes just a day to the final Supreme Court ruling on the election petition which comes about as a result of the NDC filing a petition at the Supreme Court to challenge the December 7 presidential election result declared by the Electoral Commission (EC).
The NDC’s petition detailed serious violations of the 1992 Constitution by the Electoral Commission and its chairperson and Returning Officer for the Presidential election, Jean Adukwei Mensa, in the conduct of their constitutional and legal responsibilities.
The petition sought among others, a declaration from the Supreme Court to the effect that, the purported declaration of the results of the 2020 Presidential Election on 9th December 2020 is unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.
The Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Enin Yeboah will tomorrow give its final ruling on the election petition in order to pronounce judgement as to whether the election results should be overturned or rule that, the results declared by the Electoral Commission was correct and should be maintained.
Prior to the ruling tomorrow, the National Peace Council has advised supporters of the two main political parties, National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) to accept the outcome of Election 2020 petition at the Supreme Court.
The Peace Council stated that it wants the two leaders, John Mahama and President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to be guided and reminded of the peace pact they signed ahead of December 7, 2020 election.
The NPC also urged Ghanaians to use the appropriate channel to address their grievances concerning the outcome of the just ended election.