29th October 2024 3:54:50 PM
2 mins readPresidential candidate of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), Akua Dokor, has passed away just weeks before Ghana’s 2024 general election. Donkor, a unique figure in Ghanaian politics, died on October 28 at Ridge Hospital in Accra, reportedly from respiratory complications.
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Her unexpected death has stirred both tributes and controversy, particularly concerning her official age - a discrepancy that calls into question Ghana’s records on presidential eligibility.While several media outlets reported her age as 72, official records from the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana suggest a different story.
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According to the EC’s profile of presidential candidates for the 2024 General elections, Akua Donkor was 69 years old, indicating a birth year of 1955 instead of 1952.<img src="
alt="" class="wp-image-724188"/>This issue is further complicated by conflicting statements from her family. In a recent interview with Donkor’s daughter, Mary, claimed her mother was actually
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83, implying a birth year of 1941. However, a 2020 news report by Accra based media house, Adom News published with the headline “ Akua Donkor marks 65th birthday with ‘fufu’ and bushmeat” on June 15, 2020 5:01 pm, seems to align more closely with the EC’s records.<img src="
alt="" class="wp-image-724187"/>This inconsistency in public records has renewed attention on
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Ghana’s candidate verification process, which requires each presidential aspirant to submit an attested statutory declaration ensuring accuracy of their personal details.Under Ghana’s presidential eligibility criteria, candidates are required to submit fully attested statutory declarations affirming their qualifications, including accurate personal details.
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Akua Donkor began her political career as the Assemblywoman for Herman before launching a presidential bid in 2012 as an independent candidate. Disqualified that year over eligibility issues, she endorsed Papa Kwesi Nduom of the Progressive People's Party (PPP). In 2016, a fire destroyed the GFP headquarters in Kabu, Eastern Region, derailing her campaign once again.
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Yet her determination endured, leading her to campaign for office again in 2024 under the GFP.Donkor’s passing leaves the GFP with the challenge of appointing a new candidate to compete in the upcoming election, should the party choose to participate. Ghanaians across the nation have since paid tribute to Donkor’s dedication to politics and her unrelenting commitment to public service.
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