Bernard Mornah, the leader of the People’s National Convention (PNC), has voiced strong criticism of the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana, accusing it of negligence after disqualifying him and ten other presidential aspirants from the upcoming elections.
Mornah’s comments reflect growing dissatisfaction with the EC’s procedures, as those disqualified and their supporters question the fairness of the process. He highlighted that the EC had not sufficiently communicated the requirements for candidacy, which led to the disqualification of multiple aspirants.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on September 28, Mornah emphasized that the EC has failed in its duty to ensure that candidates fully understand the application criteria. He condemned the Commission’s actions as lazy and unprofessional, noting that the disqualifications were based on minor and easily resolvable issues. According to him, the EC should have worked more closely with aspirants to provide support, rather than penalizing them over trivial mistakes.
Mornah argued that the disqualification of candidates reflects poorly on the EC’s diligence, and suggested that the Commission needs to improve its approach to maintain a fair and inclusive electoral process. He urged the EC to become more proactive and supportive in its interactions with presidential aspirants to ensure everyone has a fair chance.
Highlighting an example of the EC’s alleged incompetence, Mornah pointed out errors in the nomination forms, such as a mistake where “sex” was mistakenly written as “six.” He questioned why the EC would disqualify candidates over such minor issues, while it too was making similar errors.
Mornah has already taken legal action against the EC over his disqualification, expressing confidence that he will be reinstated as a candidate. Additionally, the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has also sued the EC regarding its exclusion from the presidential race.
The criticism against the EC continues to grow, with various disqualified aspirants seeking accountability and changes to ensure the electoral process is transparent and fair.