Three presidential aspirants have dropped out of the December 2024 race, barely three months to the elections.
They are the founder of the National Liberation Congress (NLC), Stephen Atubiga, the founder of the Ghana Alternative Party (GAP), Saahene Nana Agyei Boateng and the founder of Action People’s Party (APP), Kenneth Asamoah.
The NLC and GAP aspirants, which had attempted forming an alliance, confirmed their withdrawal from the contest in a joint statement while APP confirmed in an interviews with the Ghanaian Times yesterday.
The NLC/GAP statement said an independent candidacy initiative would have no significant effect on the 2024 election, as the competition was primarily between the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress.
“Information the Alliance pickup from the grounds indicate that most voters or people have told us on the grounds voting for any independent candidate is a waste of their votes.
“Since no independent candidate can win election in this country for now they will vote between the Vice President, Dr Bawumia, and Former President, John Dramani Mahama,” the statement said.
In the interview, Mr Asamoah said the failure of the government to completely address the destruction caused by galamsey influenced his decision to bow out of the December 7 elections.
According to Mr Asamoah, the government’s supposed efforts to tackle the galamsey menace had failed, leading to the deterioration of heavily affected areas.
He emphasised that the government should be held responsible for the worsening situation, saying, “the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has shown that they can no longer handle this issue.”
He revealed that despite having picked up nomination forms and gone through the required processes to participate in the elections, he decided to withdraw after reflecting on the galamsey crisis.
“I do not want to be part of a nation that has deliberately caused destruction to its environment,” he indicated.
Mr Asamoah reiterated that he would only consider participating in future elections if the situation surrounding galamsey significantly improves, adding that the party’s withdrawal was a stand against environmental degradation
BY NORMAN COOPER & RAISSA SAMBOU