Bernard Mornah, the flagbearer of the People’s National Convention (PNC), has announced that he will not accept his disqualification from the upcoming 2024 elections.
He asserts that the Electoral Commission (EC) has made a decision without sufficient grounds, potentially leading to an unjust outcome.
In an interview with News Central on TV3 on September 20, Mornah passionately expressed his unwavering determination to fight the disqualification. “It is a terrible afternoon, but you can be assured that I am a fighter and will fight this. I will not accept this kind of disrespect,” he stated, his resolve palpable in his words.
Mornah explained that all errors identified by the EC on his nomination forms had been corrected. He detailed the timeline of events, stating that after submitting his forms on September 13, he received a call from the EC the following day regarding alleged anomalies. He promptly rectified these issues and returned the updated forms, believing they had been accepted.
Despite this, the EC announced on September 20 that only thirteen candidates were cleared to contest in the December polls, with Mornah among eleven disqualified candidates. Most of those disqualified were independents. The EC stated that it had thoroughly examined all nomination forms to ensure compliance with legal requirements.
In response, Mornah revealed that his lawyers have formally requested the EC to provide reasons for his disqualification. He characterized the EC’s announcement as “bogus,” stating that he had received no feedback on his corrections before the EC’s public statement.
Elected as PNC flagbearer on September 8, Mornah had expressed confidence in the party’s potential impact in the upcoming elections. His commitment to contesting the disqualification underscores the intense and escalating tensions between candidates and the EC as the election date approaches, creating a charged political climate.