As per Article 50(4) of the 1992 Constitution, the GFP has been given a 10 day window to nominate a replacement candidate.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced the suspension of the printing of presidential ballot papers for the 2024 elections following the sudden death of Akua Donkor, the presidential candidate of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP). As per Article 50(4) of the 1992 Constitution, the GFP has been given a 10 day window to nominate a replacement candidate.
Article 50(4) stipulates that in cases where a candidate dies after nominations have closed but before the election takes place, an additional 10 days must be provided for new nominations. In a statement released on October 29, 2024, and signed by Samuel Tettey, the EC’s Deputy Chairman in charge of Operations, the commission acknowledged that neither the 1992 Constitution nor the Public Elections Regulations, 2020 (C.I. 127) offers comprehensive guidance on the procedures to follow when a presidential candidate dies. However, the EC emphasized that it would adhere to the provisions of Article 50(4) by giving the GFP time to present a new candidate.
The statement further clarified that the commission was on the verge of completing the printing of presidential ballot papers when news of Madam Donkor’s passing was received. As a result, the EC decided to halt the printing process to accommodate any necessary changes arising from the substitution of the GFP’s candidate.
Meanwhile, Kwabena Agyeman Appiah Kubi, popularly known as Roman Fada, who was selected as the vice presidential running mate of the GFP, has expressed his willingness to step into the presidential race. Speaking in an interview with Angel FM, he stated that if the party and legal framework permit, he is prepared to assume the role of flagbearer. Roman Fada, who has a background in entertainment, said he hopes for support from industry colleagues should he become the party's new leader.
Reflecting on the circumstances surrounding Madam Donkor’s death, Roman Fada revealed that she first fell ill on October 26, 2024, and received treatment at the Nsawam Government Hospital, where she was discharged. Unfortunately, her condition worsened, and she was transferred to the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (formerly Ridge Hospital), where she passed away on the night of October 28, 2024.
Akua Donkor, the founder of the Ghana Freedom Party, had an active political career spanning over a decade. After serving as an assembly member in Hemang within the Kwabre East District, she contested parliamentary elections in the Ashanti Region in 2004 and 2008 but was unsuccessful. Undeterred by these setbacks, she established the GFP in 2011, formally registering the party in 2012. In the lead up to the 2024 elections, Donkor personally attended all meetings of the Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC), reinforcing her commitment to the democratic process.
Following her death, the GFP is expected to issue an official statement outlining its next steps. With the EC’s decision to pause the printing of ballots, the party now faces the challenge of nominating a new candidate within the constitutional timeframe to ensure its participation in the upcoming elections.
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