Vote for dedicated leaders – Wife of PNC flag bearer declares

Mrs Comfort Mahama, wife of the flag bearer of the People's National Convention (PNC), on Friday appealed to the electorate to vote for selfless and dedicated leaders with proven potential of leading the country for accelerated development.      "We need dedicated leaders who have the interest of the people at heart and not those who would try to deceive the electorate with their money, looks and engage in deceptive politicking just to win their votes," Mrs Mahama told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra.      "Ghanaians should cast their vote by taking into consideration the candidate who can deliver when given the mandate and I know many Ghanaians believe that my husband, Dr Edward Nasigrie Mahama, and the PNC, would win this year's election," she said.      Mrs Mahama described the PNC flag bearer as a compromise candidate capable of eliminating inter-party antagonism, especially among the ruling New Patriotic Party and main opposition National Democratic Congress functionaries.      "Dr Mahama stands out among the lot as the most affable, politically mature, with an unblemished reputation both in private and in public life; he is internationally exposed and highly connected; has high diplomatic negotiation skills and ability to work with every Ghanaian, irrespective of one's political background," she said.      Mrs Mahama appealed to both the NPP and NDC to do away with inter-party antagonism, bickering and negative tendencies that had the potential of derailing the December polls and the nation's quest to set standards for Africa multi-party democracy.      She said: "I share the difficulties of most Ghanaians, but I pray that the electorate maintain their composure, not to sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate; you must consider the future of the nation, who among the lot has the capacity and capabilities to rule the country to bring accelerated human centred development."      She urged the electorate to vote massively for Dr Mahama as the man to bring real change in the lives of Ghanaians.      "The number of times my husband stood on the ticket of the PNC to contest the slot for the presidency is enough proof that he is the only candidate who has the welfare of Ghanaians at heart and is dedicated to changing their livelihoods for the better."      Mrs. Mahama urged the electorate to ponder over the policies in the manifesto of all the political parties to enable them to vote wisely during the December elections.      "PNC is the only party that has the welfare of the people at heart and if you give your mandate to the party you would experience a considerable reduction in terms of poverty levels in the country," she said. GNA

Presidential aspirants to sign statutory declaration

All candidates contesting the presidential and parliamentary elections in December are mandated to sign a statutory declaration affirming his or her qualification to stand for and be elected for the slot being contested.      "The statutory declaration is to be made before and certified by either a judge, a judicial officer, notary public, commissioner of oaths, or any person authorised by law to administer an oath," Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Friday.      "Any person designated as vice-president for the election is also mandated to sign the statutory declaration, which forms part of requirements on the Election 2008 Nomination Form."      The EC on Friday September 26 launched another phase of the electoral process by making nominations forms available for prospective candidates who wish to contest the presidential or parliamentary elections.      Presidential nomination forms are available at the EC headquarters in Accra whilst parliamentary nomination forms are available at the constituency and district offices of the EC.      The 92-page Presidential Nomination Form is divided into four parts. Part one deals details with the candidate's name, age, Voter ID Card number, Polling Station name and code, current residential address, occupation and particulars of two registered voters resident in the area of authority of each district assembly.      Part Two focuses on the Vice Presidential candidate; Part Three is statutory declaration; and Part Four is on the candidate's personal record including date and place of birth, home town, region, highest educational qualification, institution, year completed, present or last employer, position, profession, marital status and spouse.      The completed nomination forms for the presidential and parliamentary elections would be received between October 16 and 17 between 9.00 am and 12.00 noon and 2.00 pm and 5.00 pm daily.      Nominations for the presidential candidate will be received at the EC headquarters in Accra whilst the parliamentary forms will be received at the constituency and district offices.      The filing fees for the presidential and parliamentary elections are GH¢5,000 and GH¢500 respectively.      Dr Afari-Gyan explained that a candidate stood nominated; "whenever the nomination paper and the statutory declaration of a candidate are delivered and the deposit is paid in accordance with the relevant regulations unless a proof is given to the satisfaction of the returning officer of the death, withdrawal or disqualification of the candidate.      The returning officer shall inform a candidate that his or her nomination is invalid where the particulars of the candidate or the persons subscribing to the nomination paper are not as required by law.      The candidate would be allowed an opportunity to make any amendment or alteration that the candidate considers necessary.      The returning officer will endorse and sign the nomination paper the fact and reasons for his or her decision, and inform the EC accordingly and the Commission shall refer the matter with its observations to the Attorney General. GNA