Ghana’s Electoral Commission has in the interim suspended the printing of presidential ballot papers for the upcoming December 7 elections due to the death of Madam Akua Donkor, the presidential candidate from the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP).
She passed away on October 28, 2024, at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital. The Commission announced this decision in a statement on October 29, emphasizing that they have informed the GFP to select a new candidate and notify them accordingly.
In light of the constitutional provisions, specifically Article 50(4) of the 1992 Constitution, which allows a ten-day window for parties to nominate new candidates after a candidate’s death, the Electoral Commission has urged the GFP to expedite this process.
However, there are concerns regarding the absence of specific guidelines under the Public Elections Regulations, 2020, which adds uncertainty to how this situation will be managed.
The Electoral Commission expressed condolences to Madam Donkor’s family and acknowledged the significant implications her passing has on the electoral process just weeks before the elections.
