The 2024 Presidential candidate for the People’s National Convention (PNC), Bernard Mornah, has made a bold declaration regarding the upcoming 2024 general elections in Ghana.
Speaking on the Prime Morning show on JoyPrime, he insisted that the Electoral Commission (EC) would be unable to proceed with the elections if his name is not included on the ballot.
The statement comes in the wake of the EC’s recent decision to disqualify Mr Mornah and ten others from the presidential race. Mr Mornah and his party are already in court challenging the decision.
Speaking to the host, Roselyn Felli on Wednesday, Mr Mornah expressed his firm conviction that the actions of the Commission to exclude him from the list of presidential candidates were not only unjust but also unconstitutional.
“I am telling you, without any hesitation, that the Electoral Commission cannot and must not proceed with these elections if I am not on the ballot paper. We are a legitimate political party, and I am a legitimate candidate who has met the requirements set forth by the Constitution of Ghana. Excluding us from the elections would be a travesty of democracy,” Mornah asserted.
He argued that the EC’s decision undermines the democratic process and disenfranchises a significant portion of the electorate, who deserve to have the PNC represented in the elections.
Bernard Mornah reiterated that his party had met all the constitutional requirements necessary for him to contest the election and accused the EC of selectively enforcing rules to the detriment of smaller political players, which according to him, does not only violate the principles of fairness but also threaten the credibility of the entire electoral process.
“Why should the Electoral Commission, which is supposed to be a neutral body, suddenly become the decider of which candidates the people should have the option of choosing? Our constitution guarantees the right of every Ghanaian to participate in free and fair elections, and by extension, it guarantees the right of voters to choose from all qualified candidates,” Mornah said .
“This is not just about Bernard Mornah or the PNC but about protecting the sanctity of our democratic process. If today, the EC can disqualify me without proper justification, then tomorrow it could be another candidate or another party. We must not allow our democracy to be undermined in this manner.”
Also, when asked how he intends to prevent the EC from proceeding with the election without his inclusion, the PNC flagbearer indicated that he and his party were exploring both legal and political avenues to address the situation.
He noted that the PNC’s legal action against the EC essentially injuncts them from progressing with any election-related activities until the issue is resolved.
For now, Mornah remains resolute, insisting that he will not be silenced and that the EC cannot move forward without addressing his concerns and he is not backing down from his fight to ensure his name is on the ballot.
Meanwhile, the EC has justified its decision to disqualify 11 aspirants saying it is ready for any legal action that may arise.
Source: Attah Delali Alexander
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