In a dramatic turn for the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana has officially disqualified Philip Appiah Kubi, the party’s replacement flagbearer for the December 2024 presidential election. The announcement, made by EC Chair Jean Mensa during a press briefing on Tuesday, November 12, comes as a blow to the GFP, which had been working to recover from the untimely loss of its founding leader and original candidate, Akua Donkor.
Donkor’s unexpected death on October 15 created a leadership vacuum and left the GFP in urgent need of a new candidate to compete in the December elections. To accommodate this unprecedented situation, the EC extended a 10-day period to the GFP to nominate a new candidate, leading to the appointment of Kubi as their standard-bearer. However, EC’s subsequent examination of Kubi’s nomination form uncovered multiple violations, ultimately resulting in his disqualification.
According to Jean Mensa, the EC identified a series of errors and irregularities in Kubi’s documentation that could not be overlooked. While the party managed to correct several minor issues, other “illegitimate” elements on the form remained in violation of the country’s electoral regulations. Mensa explained that these issues went beyond mere administrative mistakes, involving legal violations that compromised the integrity of the electoral process.
“The integrity of our electoral process is paramount,” Mensa stated. “Our mandate as the EC is to ensure that all candidates meet the legal standards set forth for participation. We cannot, in good conscience, overlook irregularities that undermine this mandate, regardless of efforts to address them.”
This decision now leaves the GFP with limited options as the clock ticks down to the election.
