Akua Donkor’s Party Disqualified

The Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) has disqualified Ghana Freedom Party’s Phillip Appiah Kubi, also known as Roman Fada, from the 2024 presidential race.

Speaking to the press on Tuesday, November 12^th, 2024, theEC chairperson, Jean Mensa, stated that they cited several errors and illegalities in Kubi’s nomination forms, which ultimately led to his disqualification.

“The commission therefore wrote to the party and the candidate, disqualifying him from contesting in the 2024 presidential election”, the EC bluntly stated.

However, the Commission stood firm on its decision and would not alter candidates’ positions on the ballot papers.

“We are here to inform you of the Commission’s decision to maintain the presidential ballot as it. We are almost ninety percent complete with the printing of the presidential ballots. We are not here to change positions; we are not here to re-ballot but we are simply here to inform you that the Commission intend to notify our printing houses to proceed with the presidential ballot as it is.

 It will proceed with the ballot that bears the image and the name of the Ghana Freedom Party, their symbol and the image of Madam AkuaDonkor,” she informed.

She also announced that votes cast for the late founder of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), Madam Akua Donkor, would be annulled.

Following the passing of Akua Donkor on October 28^that Ridge Hospital in Accra, the Ghana Freedom Party had designated Kubi as their new Presidential Candidate.

This decision was communicated in a letter dated November 4and signed by the party’s General Secretary, George Afful to inform the Electoral Commission of the party’s shift in leadership for the upcoming election.

Before her death, Akua Donkor had chosen Kubi as her Vice-Presidential candidate. However, despite the nomination of Kubi, GFP executives held mixed opinions on contesting the elections so soon after their founder’s death.

In response to the EC’s decision, the GFP’s National Organizer, Richard Botwe, expressed satisfaction with the disqualification, reflecting sentiments among some party executives who preferred to abstain from the 2024 election out of respect for Akua Donkor’s legacy.

Botwe explained that a consensus had been reached among key members to sit out the elections and allow the party time to restructure and mourn their founder properly.

However, the General Secretary of GFP disagreed with this stance and proceeded to file Kubi’s nomination, despite opposition from other executives.

Botwe had previously requested the EC to exclude GFP from the elections, but the General Secretary pushed forward with Kubi’s nomination in defiance of the party’s collective wishes.

The Ghana Freedom Party now plans to refocus and prepare for the 2028 elections. Botwe emphasized the party’s intention to honor Akua Donkor by allowing time for restructuring and strengthening the party’s foundation before returning to the presidential race in the future.